Epigenetic re-expression of important genes silenced in the pathway of carcinogenesis represents an exciting new area for cancer chemoprevention. The long-range goal of this project is to identify naturally occurring phytochemicals that reverse the inhibition of master cell signaling pathways. One such master switch is the retinoid X receptor (RXR). That RXR is proposed to also be involved in Apc-independent degradation of beta- catenin pivotally places it at the center of crosstalk of cell signaling molecules, often corrupted in colon tumorigenesis. Polyphenols from green tea have widespread cancer chemopreventive activity. At least one of the green tea catechins, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) has been reported to restore activity of silenced growth regulatory genes in squamous cell cancers. Our preliminary data suggest that green tea modulates the hypermethylation of RXR alpha gene promoter, and inhibits intestinal tumorigenesis in the azoxymethane- treated ApcMIN/+ mouse. We hypothesize that RXRa is lost early in colon cancer due to gene and that green tea polyphenols restore this activity by inhibition of DMNTs and HDACs, providing a novel mechanism of chemoprevention for colon cancer.
Our aims are:
In Specific Aim 1, in colon cancer cell lines and in human colorectal tumors establish that loss of RXRa is an early event in colon cancer.
In Specific Aim 2, in colon cancer cell lines, determine if EGCG is responsible for changes in HDACs that associate with the promoter region of RXRa, RAR?, hMLH1, p14arf, and p16INK4a and compare this activity with other known inhibitors of HDACs.
In Specific Aim 3, we will determine if inhibition of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) is an important component of epigenetic regulation of RXRa activity and other methylated target genes in colon cancer cell lines.
In Specific Aim 4 we will examine the chemopreventive effects of green tea/EGCG intervention on RXRa gene dosage in RXRa+/- mice with the colon carcinogen, AOM. We will also examine the effects of green tea/EGCG intervention in intestinal tumorigenesis in ApcMIN/+ RXR+/- and ApcMIN/+ RXR+/+ bigenic mice. The working hypothesis for this aim is that loss of RXRa will augment colon carcinogenesis in RXRa deficient mice. We also explore the effects of GT and EGCG intervention on the reactivation of silenced RXRa in the AOM- treated ApcMIN/+ RXR+/- bigenic mice.

Public Health Relevance

Silencing of critical regulatory genes by epigenetic mechanisms may play a critical role in colon cancer. We hypothesize that green tea polyphenols suppress DNA methyltransferases and histone acetylase activity. This, in turn, may allow re-expression of growth regulatory genes and provide a means of cancer control for this disease. Because RXRa loss involves impairment of regulatory gene networks, the impact of green tea reversal of this transcription factor's loss is significant.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
7R01CA096694-09
Application #
8636106
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-OTC-B (02))
Program Officer
Kim, Young S
Project Start
2002-07-01
Project End
2015-04-30
Budget Start
2013-05-01
Budget End
2014-04-30
Support Year
9
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$244,045
Indirect Cost
$80,804
Name
University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
Department
Other Basic Sciences
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
800772162
City
San Antonio
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
78229
Morris, Jay; Moseley, Vondina R; Cabang, April B et al. (2016) Reduction in promotor methylation utilizing EGCG (epigallocatechin-3-gallate) restores RXR? expression in human colon cancer cells. Oncotarget 7:35313-26
Khoogar, Roxane; Kim, Byung-Chang; Morris, Jay et al. (2016) Chemoprevention in gastrointestinal physiology and disease. Targeting the progression of cancer with natural products: a focus on gastrointestinal cancer. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 310:G629-44
Morris, Jay; Fang, Yuan; De Mukhopdhyay, Keya et al. (2016) Natural Agents Used in Chemoprevention of Aerodigestive and GI Cancers. Curr Pharmacol Rep 2:11-20
Knackstedt, Rebecca; Shaoli, Sun; Moseley, Vondina et al. (2014) The importance of the retinoid X receptor alpha in modulating inflammatory signaling in acute murine colitis. Dig Dis Sci 59:753-9
Knackstedt, Rebecca W; Moseley, Vondina R; Sun, Shaoli et al. (2013) Vitamin D receptor and retinoid X receptor ? status and vitamin D insufficiency in models of murine colitis. Cancer Prev Res (Phila) 6:585-93
Moseley, Vondina R; Morris, Jay; Knackstedt, Rebecca W et al. (2013) Green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin 3-gallate, contributes to the degradation of DNMT3A and HDAC3 in HCT 116 human colon cancer cells. Anticancer Res 33:5325-33
Knackstedt, Rebecca W; Moseley, Vondina R; Wargovich, Michael J (2012) Epigenetic mechanisms underlying diet-sourced compounds in the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal cancer. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 12:1203-10
Wargovich, Michael J; Morris, Jay; Brown, Vondina et al. (2010) Nutraceutical use in late-stage cancer. Cancer Metastasis Rev 29:503-10
Volate, Suresh R; Muga, Stephanie J; Issa, Ala Y et al. (2009) Epigenetic modulation of the retinoid X receptor alpha by green tea in the azoxymethane-Apc Min/+ mouse model of intestinal cancer. Mol Carcinog 48:920-33
Peng, Guang; Wargovich, Michael J; Dixon, Dan A (2006) Anti-proliferative effects of green tea polyphenol EGCG on Ha-Ras-induced transformation of intestinal epithelial cells. Cancer Lett 238:260-70

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