title: Chick embryo extract demethylates tumor suppressor genes in osteosarcoma cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epigenetics is the study of changes in gene expression or cellular phenotype caused by mechanisms other than changes in the underlying DNA sequence. It is widely accepted that cancer has genetic and epigenetic origins. The idea of epigenetic reprogramming of cancer cells by an embryonic microenvironment possesses potential interest from the prospect of both basic science and potential therapeutic strategies. Chick embryo extract (CEE) has been used for the successful expansion of many specific stem cells and has demonstrated the ability to facilitate DNA demethylation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The current study was conducted to compare the status of DNA methylation in highly metastatic and less metastatic osteosarcoma cells and to investigate whether CEE may affect the epigenetic regulation of tumor suppressor genes and thus change the metastatic phenotypes of highly metastatic osteosarcoma cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  K7M2 murine OS cells were treated with CEE to determine its potential effect on DNA methylation, cell apoptosis, and invasion capacity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our current results suggest that the methylation status of tumor suppressor genes (p16, p53, and E-cadherin) is significantly greater in highly metastatic mouse ostoesarcoma K7M2 cells in comparison with less metastatic mouse osteosarcoma K12 cells. CEE treatment of K7M2 cells caused demethylation of p16, p53, and E-cadherin genes, upregulated their expression, and resulted in the reversion of metastatic phenotypes in highly metastatic osteosarcoma cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CEE may promote the reversion of metastatic phenotypes of osteosarcoma cells and can be a helpful tool to study osteosarcoma tumor reversion by epigenetic reprogramming.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Demethylation of tumor suppressor genes in osteosarcoma may represent a novel strategy to diminish the metastatic potential of this neoplasm. Further studies, both in vitro and in vivo, are warranted to evaluate the clinical feasibility of this approach as an adjuvant to current therapy.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Stem Cell Laboratory, Stem Cell Research Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Bridgeside Point 2, Suite 206, 450 Technology Drive, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219, USA.
authors.forename: Xiaodong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Mu
authors.forename: Bolat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sultankulov
authors.forename: Riddhima
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.forename: Adel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mahjoub
authors.forename: Trevor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schott
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.forename: Johnny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huard
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Weiss
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002642:Chick Embryo; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000187:drug effects*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D019942:Genes, p16; D016158:Genes, p53; D005838:Genotype; D051379:Mice; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000556:secondary; D010641:Phenotype; D013997:Time Factors; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; C513384:CDH1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D014020:Tissue Extracts