目的:通过分析苯并芘(BaP)诱导细胞恶性转化过程中DNA甲基化水平的变化,探讨BaP致癌的作用机制。方法:以正常人支气管上皮细胞(16HBE)为研究对象,使用梯度浓度BaP(0、10、20和40μmol/L)染毒处理,构建不同染毒周期(1周、9周和15周)的细胞株,使用5-甲基胞嘧啶(5-mC)细胞免疫荧光检测各组细胞基因组DNA整体甲基化水平的变化,并进一步利用Western blotting和实时荧光定量-PCR技术分析不同染毒周期细胞甲基化蛋白酶(DNMT1、DNMT3a、DNMT3b、MBD2)表达的变化。结果:BaP染毒后,16HBE细胞的5-mC荧光强度表达下降,且随着染毒剂量的增加和染毒时间的延长,这种下降趋势更明显,其中40μmol/L BaP染毒处理细胞15周时,肉眼已难以观察到可见荧光。与对照组比较,BaP染毒可下调细胞DNMT1蛋白及其mRNA的表达,并呈现明显的剂量和时间反应关系(P均〈0.05),但DNMT3a、DNMT3b、MBD2蛋白的表达变化不明显(P均〉0.05)。结论:BaP可诱导16HBE细胞基因组DNA整体甲基化水平下调,DNMT1在其中可能发挥重要作用。
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of DNA methylation as a possible mechanism of Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) induction of malignant transformation in vitro. METHODS: Human bronchial epithelial cells (16HBE cell line) were treated with different concentrations BaP (0,10,20 and 40 μmol/L) for 1,9 and 15 weeks. Then,5-methylcytosine immunofluorescent assay was used to detect genomic DNA methylation level,Western blotting and RT-PCR were used to detect protein and mRNA levels of DNMT1,DNMT3a,DNMT3b and MBD2. RESULTS: BaP treatment decreased expression of 5-mC (methylation) in 16HBE cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The protein and mRNA levels of DNMT1 showed in a significant dose- and time-dependent reduction (P 〈 0.05),but there were no signi fi-cant changes in protein levels of DNMT3a,DNMT3b and MBD2(all P 〉 0.05). CONCLUSION: BaP treatment decreased the global DNA methylation levels in 16HBE cells and reduction of DNMT1 expression could play an important role.