Manipulating Epigenetic Processes to Fight Developing Cancers
Article: The commonality of plasticity underlying multipotent tumor cells and embryonic stem cells
Author(s): Postovit LM, Costa FF, Bischof JM, et al.
Source: JOURNAL OF CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY Volume: 101 Issue: 4 Pages: 908-917 Published: JUL 1 2007
Over the recent few years, there has been an exploding amount of interest and information gathered about epigenetic processes. These mechanisms play a large role in governing the expression of our inherited genes, dictating the road our development takes. How can we use the information on these processes though, to avoid the development of unwanted conditions such as cancer?
Postovit et al. (2007) has managed to achieve the reprogramming of an aggressive tumor cell to a more benign state by exposing it to embryonic microenvironments. The authors have established that at least a part of this reversion was achieved via the epigenetic processes of the healthy embryonic stem cells, which share similar processes in development to the aggressive cancer cells. The embryonic microenvironment was shown to facilitate inhibition of the production of the Nodal protein, which promotes melanoma cell plasticity and tumor progression. The protein's dna sequence was observed to undergo methylation at specific sites responsible for binding of transcription factors, restricting further Nodal protein production. The findings of this study provide great hope towards reversing cancerous activities in our body.
by Marina Donskoi
Author(s): Postovit LM, Costa FF, Bischof JM, et al.
Source: JOURNAL OF CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY Volume: 101 Issue: 4 Pages: 908-917 Published: JUL 1 2007
Over the recent few years, there has been an exploding amount of interest and information gathered about epigenetic processes. These mechanisms play a large role in governing the expression of our inherited genes, dictating the road our development takes. How can we use the information on these processes though, to avoid the development of unwanted conditions such as cancer?
Postovit et al. (2007) has managed to achieve the reprogramming of an aggressive tumor cell to a more benign state by exposing it to embryonic microenvironments. The authors have established that at least a part of this reversion was achieved via the epigenetic processes of the healthy embryonic stem cells, which share similar processes in development to the aggressive cancer cells. The embryonic microenvironment was shown to facilitate inhibition of the production of the Nodal protein, which promotes melanoma cell plasticity and tumor progression. The protein's dna sequence was observed to undergo methylation at specific sites responsible for binding of transcription factors, restricting further Nodal protein production. The findings of this study provide great hope towards reversing cancerous activities in our body.
by Marina Donskoi
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