Increased expression of hepatic DNA methyltransferase in smokers |
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Authors: | GJ Hammons Y Yan NG Lopatina B Jin C Wise EB Blann LA Poirier FF Kadlubar BD Lyn-Cook |
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Institution: | (1) Division of Molecular Epidemiology, National Center for Toxicological Research, Jefferson, Arkansas, USA |
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Abstract: | The DNA methyltransferase enzyme (DNA MTase) catalyzes DNA methylation at cytosines in CpG dinucleotides. 5-Methylcytosine
modification of DNA is important in gene regulation, DNA replication, chromatin organization and disease. Increased levels
of DNA MTase have been associated with the initiation and promotion of cancer. This study was conducted to assess whether
cigarette smoking and other factors, such as age and gender, influence DNA MTase expression in nontumorous tissue. DNA MTase
was significantly (p<0.05) higher in samples from cigarette smokers; the mean level of DNA MTase mRNA was almost 2-fold higher in these samples
than in those from nonsmokers. Levels of DNA MTase mRNA were higher in samples from females than in those from males, but
the difference was not statistically significant. Age was not associated with DNA MTase levels. Increased levels of DNA MTase
in individuals who smoke may indicate a greater susceptibility to the risk of cancer since increased levels of this enzyme
are found in cancer cell lines and human tumors. The results of this study suggest that further investigations of increased
expression of this enzyme as a predisposing factor for cancer susceptibility are needed.
This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. |
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Keywords: | human DNA methyltransferase smoking |
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