We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Indicaxanthin Induces Autophagy in Intestinal Epithelial Cancer Cells by Epigenetic Mechanisms Involving DNA Methylation.
- Authors
Ragusa, Maria Antonietta; Naselli, Flores; Cruciata, Ilenia; Volpes, Sara; Schimmenti, Chiara; Serio, Graziella; Mauro, Maurizio; Librizzi, Mariangela; Luparello, Claudio; Chiarelli, Roberto; La Rosa, Chiara; Lauria, Antonino; Gentile, Carla; Caradonna, Fabio
- Abstract
Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved process critical in maintaining cellular homeostasis. Recently, the anticancer potential of autophagy inducers, including phytochemicals, was suggested. Indicaxanthin is a betalain pigment found in prickly pear fruit with antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic activities in colorectal cancer cells associated with epigenetic changes in selected methylation-silenced oncosuppressor genes. Here, we demonstrate that indicaxanthin induces the up-regulation of the autophagic markers LC3-II and Beclin1, and increases autophagolysosome production in Caco-2 cells. Methylomic studies showed that the indicaxanthin-induced pro-autophagic activity was associated with epigenetic changes. In addition to acting as a hypermethylating agent at the genomic level, indicaxanthin also induced significant differential methylation in 39 out of 47 autophagy-related genes, particularly those involved in the late stages of autophagy. Furthermore, in silico molecular modelling studies suggested a direct interaction of indicaxanthin with Bcl-2, which, in turn, influenced the function of Beclin1, a key autophagy regulator. External effectors, including food components, may modulate the epigenetic signature of cancer cells. This study demonstrates, for the first time, the pro-autophagic potential of indicaxanthin in human colorectal cancer cells associated with epigenetic changes and contributes to outlining its potential healthy effect in the pathophysiology of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Subjects
AUTOPHAGY; ORGANELLES; ORGANIC compounds; DNA methylation; NUTRITIONAL genomics; PHYTOCHEMICALS; GENE expression; COLORECTAL cancer; RESEARCH funding; EPITHELIAL cells; EPIGENOMICS
- Publication
Nutrients, 2023, Vol 15, Issue 15, p3495
- ISSN
2072-6643
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/nu15153495