2020 article

Nutrient modulation of DNA repair in lung cancer

Eroglu, A., & Balbuena, E. (2020, April). FASEB JOURNAL, Vol. 34.

By: A. Eroglu n & E. Balbuena n

TL;DR: While β‐ carotene increased OGG1 expression at lower doses, it led to a dramatic decrease at higher concentrations suggesting that at higher doses β‐carotene exerted a pro‐oxidant effect, the objective is to illustrate the molecular mechanisms behind the chemoprotective effects of major dietary carotenoids. (via Semantic Scholar)
UN Sustainable Development Goal Categories
3. Good Health and Well-being (OpenAlex)
Source: Web Of Science
Added: October 12, 2020

Noncommunicable diseases associated with aging and inflammation is rising in recent decades, contributing global burden of disease globally. Among them are cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer. Our objective is to illustrate the molecular mechanisms behind the chemoprotective effects of major dietary carotenoids. We hypothesize that carotenoids play a role in modulating genome stability. Telomeres are essential for the stability of our genome, and oxidative stress caused by the reactive oxygen species poses a risk for telomere shortening, thereby contributing to the pathogenesis of chronic diseases, including lung cancer. Human telomeres are composed of 10–15 kilobases of TTAGGG repeats. Guanine is the most readily oxidized of the natural bases, and TTAGG repeats are preferred sites for conversion of Guanine to 8‐oxoG, which repaired by base excision repair through an enzyme called OGG1. In the current study, we investigated mRNA and protein expression of OGG1 and retinoic acid receptors (RARs) in human alveolar epithelial cells exposed to cigarette smoke. Cells pre‐treated with various doses of β‐carotene for 24 hours, and the following day exposed to smoke using a smoking chamber. We found out that while β‐carotene increased OGG1 expression at lower doses, it led to a dramatic decrease at higher concentrations suggesting that at higher doses β‐carotene exerted a pro‐oxidant effect. Previously it was reported that the expression of the RARβ, putative tumor suppressor gene, is reduced in lung cancer. In parallel to OGG1 inhibition, we observed decreased levels of RARβ. We are in the process of quantifying 8‐oxoG by HPLC‐MS/MS. We believe that these novel findings will shed light on the mechanism of action of β‐carotene at the molecular level.