Effects of S-adenosylmethionine and methylthioadenosine on inflammation-induced colon cancer in mice

Carcinogenesis. 2012 Feb;33(2):427-35. doi: 10.1093/carcin/bgr295. Epub 2011 Dec 9.

Abstract

Chronic inflammation is an underlying risk factor for colon cancer. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) plays a critical role in the development of inflammation-induced colon cancer in a mouse model. S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) and its metabolite methylthioadenosine (MTA) can inhibit lipopolysaccharide-induced TNF-α expression in macrophages. The aim of this work was to examine whether SAMe and MTA are effective in preventing inflammation-induced colon cancer and if so identify signaling pathways affected. Balb/c mice were treated with azoxymethane (AOM) and dextran sulfate sodium to induce colon cancer. Two days after AOM treatment, mice were divided into three groups: vehicle control, SAMe or MTA. Tumor load, histology, immunohistochemistry, gene and protein expression were determined. SAMe and MTA treatment reduced tumor load by ∼40%. Both treatments raised SAMe and MTA levels but MTA also raised S-adenosylhomocysteine levels. MTA treatment prevented the induction of many genes known to play pathogenetic roles in this model except for TNF-α and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). SAMe also had no effect on TNF-α or iNOS and was less inhibitory than MTA on the other genes. In vivo, both treatments induced apoptosis but inhibited proliferation, β-catenin, nuclear factor kappa B activation and interleukin (IL) 6 signaling. Effect of SAMe and MTA on IL-6 signaling was examined using Colo 205 colon cancer cells. In these cells, SAMe and MTA inhibited IL-6-induced IL-10 expression. MTA also inhibited IL-10 transcription and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 activation. In conclusion, SAMe and MTA reduced inflammation-induced colon cancer and inhibited several pathways important in colon carcinogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Azoxymethane / adverse effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / metabolism
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / pathology
  • Chemoprevention / methods
  • Colonic Neoplasms / chemically induced
  • Colonic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Colonic Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Dextran Sulfate
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Inflammation / pathology*
  • Interleukin-10 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Purine-Nucleoside Phosphorylase / pharmacology*
  • S-Adenosylhomocysteine / metabolism
  • S-Adenosylmethionine / pharmacology*
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Transcriptional Activation / drug effects
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism
  • beta Catenin / metabolism

Substances

  • Interleukin-6
  • NF-kappa B
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor
  • Stat3 protein, mouse
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • beta Catenin
  • Interleukin-10
  • S-Adenosylmethionine
  • Dextran Sulfate
  • S-Adenosylhomocysteine
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
  • Nos2 protein, mouse
  • Purine-Nucleoside Phosphorylase
  • 5'-methylthioadenosine phosphorylase
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Azoxymethane