Effect of 5-fluoro-2′-deoxycytidine (FdCyd) on p16INK4a, p14ARF, p15INK4b, and DNA methyltransferase 1, 3a, and 3b Genes Expression, Apoptosis Induction, and Cell Growth Inhibition in Pancreatic Cancer AsPC-1 and Hepatocellular Carcinoma LCL-PI 11 Cell Lines

Aberrant DNA methylation of the promoter region is one of the most epigenetic changes in numerous cancers. DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (DNMTIs) can revert DNA hypermethylation in tumor suppressor genes (TSGs). The present study was designed to investigate the effect of 5-fluoro-2′-deoxycytidine (FdCyd) on p16INK4a, p14ARF, p15INK4b, and DNA methyltransferase 1, 3a, and 3b genes expression, apoptosis induction, cell growth inhibition in pancreatic cancer AsPC-1 and hepatocellular carcinoma LCL-PI 11 cell lines.

The cells were treated with FdCyd at different periods. Then, the MTT assay, cell apoptosis assay, and qRT-PCR were done to determine cell viability, cell apoptosis, and the relative gene expression level respectively.

The FdCyd decreased DNA methyltransferase 1, 3a, and 3b and increased p16INK4a, p14ARF, and p15INK4b genes expression significantly (P<0.001). Besides, LCL-PI 11 cell was more sensitive to FdCyd in comparison to AsPC-1 cell. FdCyd induced significant cell growth inhibition with a dose- and time-dependent manner (P<0.001). The IC50 value of FdCyd was obtained with approximately 1μM. Further, FdCyd induced cell apoptosis significantly as a time-dependent manner. The number of apoptotic cells was significantly increased in all groups. The percentage of apoptotic cells after 24 and 48 h were 13.86 and 29.6 % in AsPC-1 and 21.04 and 41.52 % in LCL-PI 11 cell line respectively (P<0.001).

The FdCyd can reactivate the p16INK4a, p14ARF, and p15INK4b through inhibition of DNA methyltransferase 1, 3a, and 3b gene expression.