dimethoxycurcumin and Leukemia

Curcumin is a known epigenetic modifier that demonstrated antitumor effect in different types of cancer. The poor solubility and metabolic stability are major drawbacks that limit its development as an antitumor agent. Dimethoxycurcumin (DMC) is a more soluble and stable curcumin analog. In this study, we compared the effect of both drugs on a variety of histone posttranslational modifications and on the activity of histone lysine methyltransferase (HKMTs) and demethylase (HKDMTs) enzymes that target the H3K4, H3K9 and H3K27 epigenetic marks. Mass spectrometry was used to quantitate the changes in 95 histone posttranslational modifications induced by curcumin or DMC. The effect of both drugs on the enzymatic activity of HKMTs and HKDMs was measured using an antibody-based assay. Mass spectrometry analysis showed that curcumin and DMC modulated several histone modifications. Histone changes were not limited to lysine methylation and acetylation but included arginine and glutamine methylation. Only few histone modifications were similarly changed by both drugs. On the contrary, the effect of both drugs on the activity of HKMTs and HKDMs was very similar. Curcumin and DMC inhibited the HKMTs enzymes that target the H3K4, H3K9 and H3K27 marks and increased the activity of the HKDMs enzymes LSD1, JARID and JMJD2. In conclusion, we identified novel enzymatic targets for both curcumin and DMC that support their use and development as epigenetic modifiers in cancer treatment. The multiple targets modulated by both drugs could provide a therapeutic advantage by overcoming drug resistance development.

Topics: Curcumin; Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase; Histones; Humans; Leukemia

Curcumin is an ideal chemopreventive and antitumor agent characterized by poor bioavailability and low stability. The development of synthetic structural analogues like dimethoxycurcumin (DMC) could overcome these drawbacks. In this study we compared the cytotoxicity, metabolism and the epigenetic changes induced by both drugs in leukemia cells.. Apoptosis and cell cycle analysis were analyzed by flow cytometry. Real-time PCR was used for gene expression analysis. DNA methylation was analyzed by DNA pyrosequencing. The metabolic stability was determined using human pooled liver microsomes. Chromatin Immunoprecipitation was used to quantify histone methylation.. Clinically relevant concentration of curcumin and DMC were not cytotoxic to leukemia cells and induced G2/M cell cycle arrest. DMC was more metabolically stable than curcumin. Curcumin and DMC were devoid of DNA hypomethylating activity. DMC induced the expression of promoter methylated genes without reversing DNA methylation and increased H3K36me3 mark near the promoter region of hypermethylated genes.. DMC is a more stable analogue of curcumin that can induce epigenetic changes not induced by curcumin. DMC induced the expression of promoter methylated genes. The combination of DMC with DNA methyltransferase inhibitors could harness their combined induced epigenetic changes for optimal re-expression of epigenetically silenced genes.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Apoptosis; Biotransformation; Cell Line, Tumor; Curcumin; DNA Methylation; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Stability; Epigenesis, Genetic; G2 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints; Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic; Histones; Humans; Leukemia; Methylation; Microsomes, Liver; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Time Factors