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Quercetin downregulates the expression of IL15 in cancer cells through DNA methylation

M Zhang1, A Lu, H Wang

  • 1Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, Shanghai, China. hxwang@cemps.ac.cn.

European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences
|April 4, 2023
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Quercetin inhibits cancer cell proliferation by downregulating Interleukin-15 (IL15) expression. This effect is mediated by increased methylation of the IL15 promoter region, impacting cellular immunity.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Immunology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Cellular immunity plays a crucial role in cancer surveillance.
  • Interleukin-15 (IL15) is a key cytokine involved in immune responses against cancer.
  • Quercetin is a natural compound with potential anti-cancer properties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of quercetin on cellular immunity, specifically IL15 expression, in cancer cells.
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanism by which quercetin affects IL15 expression.
  • To determine if quercetin influences the methylation status of the IL15 promoter.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro culture of HeLa and A549 cancer cell lines.
  • Treatment with varying concentrations of quercetin.
  • Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to measure IL15 and DNA methyltransferase (DNMTs) transcript levels.
  • Bisulfite sequencing to analyze IL15 promoter methylation.

Main Results:

  • Quercetin treatment led to significant downregulation of IL15 expression in both cell lines.
  • IL15 promoter methylation levels increased approximately twofold in HeLa cells and threefold in A549 cells post-quercetin treatment.
  • A correlation was observed between quercetin concentration and increased IL15 promoter methylation.

Conclusions:

  • Quercetin exhibits anti-proliferative effects on cancer cells.
  • Quercetin downregulates IL15 expression.
  • The downregulation of IL15 by quercetin is mediated through epigenetic modification, specifically by increasing the methylation of the IL15 promoter.

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