title: The role of DNA methylation in catechol-enhanced erythroid differentiation of K562 cells.
abstract: Catechol is one of phenolic metabolites of benzene in vivo. Catechol is also widely used in pharmaceutical and chemical industries. In addition, fruits, vegetables and cigarette smoke also contain catechol. Our precious study showed that several benzene metabolites (phenol, hydroquinone, and 1,2,4-benzenetriol) inhibited erythroid differentiation of K562 cells. In present study, the effect of catechol on erythroid differentiation of K562 cells was investigated. Moreover, to address the role of DNA methylation in catechol-induced effect on erythroid differentiation in K562 cells, methylation levels of erythroid-specific genes were analyzed by Quantitative MassARRAY methylation analysis platform. Benzidine staining showed that exposure to catechol enhanced hemin-induced hemoglobin accumulation in K562 cells in concentration- and time-dependent manners. The mRNA expression of erythroid specific genes, including α-globin, β-globin, γ-globin, erythroid 5-aminolevulinate synthase, erythroid porphobilinogen deaminase, and transcription factor GATA-1 genes, showed a significant concentration-dependent increase in catechol-treated K562 cells. The exposure to catechol caused a decrease in DNA methylation levels at a few CpG sites in some erythroid specific genes including α-globin, β-globin and erythroid porphobilinogen deaminase genes. These results indicated that catechol improved erythroid differentiation potency of K562 cells at least partly via up-regulating transcription of some erythroid related genes, and suggested that inhibition of DNA methylation might be involved in up-regulated expression of some erythroid related genes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Science and Biotechnology, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Fei
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiao-Rong
authors.initials: XR
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.lastname: Suriguga
authors.forename: Guang-Yao
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zong-Chun
authors.initials: ZC
authors.lastname: Yi
mesh_terms: D002396:Catechols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D018899:CpG Islands / Q000187:drug effects; D019175:DNA Methylation; D041905:Erythroid Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D006427:Hemin / Q000494:pharmacology; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020014:K562 Cells; D005810:Multigene Family; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D002396:Catechols; D006454:Hemoglobins; D006427:Hemin