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Updated: Jun 5, 2025

Continuous Fluorescence-Based Endonuclease-Coupled DNA Methylation Assay to Screen for DNA Methyltransferase Inhibitors
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Astaxanthin Increases Tumor Suppressor Gene Expression and Affects Cellular Biological Behavior in Oral Dysplastic

Peiyan Wang1,2, Xiaofei Yu1,2, Pei Sun1,2

  • 1Department of Stomatology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.

Journal of Oral Pathology & Medicine : Official Publication of the International Association of Oral Pathologists and the American Academy of Oral Pathology
|December 13, 2024
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Astaxanthin reduces tumor suppressor gene promoter methylation in oral dysplasia, inhibiting cell viability and migration. This study clarifies astaxanthin

Area of Science:

  • Oral oncology
  • Epigenetics
  • Nutritional biochemistry

Background:

  • Abnormal DNA methylation inactivates tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) in oral potential malignant diseases (OPMDs).
  • Carotenoids, such as astaxanthin, show therapeutic potential in OPMDs and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) by regulating DNA methylation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between astaxanthin's anti-cancer effects and its DNA methylation regulatory capacity in OPMDs.
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying astaxanthin's action on oral dysplastic keratinocytes (DOK) cells.

Main Methods:

  • Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) for comprehensive DNA methylation analysis.
  • Methylation-specific PCR, qRT-PCR, and Western blot to assess gene and protein expression.
  • Cell viability (CCK8), migration (scratch assay), cell cycle, and apoptosis assays to evaluate cellular responses to astaxanthin.

Main Results:

  • WGBS identified significant promoter CpG methylation differences in TSGs HOXA3 and SOX1 in DOK cells.
  • Astaxanthin treatment (8 μM) reduced promoter CpG methylation of these TSGs, leading to increased gene expression.
  • Astaxanthin inhibited DOK cell viability, reduced migration, induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest, and promoted apoptosis.

Conclusions:

  • Significant variations in DNA methylation patterns exist between normal, dysplastic, and cancerous oral cells.
  • Astaxanthin downregulates DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) protein expression, reducing TSG promoter CpG methylation.
  • Astaxanthin modulates the biological behavior of DOK cells by upregulating TSG expression, offering therapeutic potential for OPMDs.
Keywords:
DNA methylationastaxanthinoral potential malignant diseasestumor suppressor gene

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