Curcumin Triggers DNA Damage and Inhibits Expression of DNA Repair Proteins in Human Lung Cancer Cells

Anticancer Res. 2015 Jul;35(7):3867-73.

Abstract

The study goal was to evaluate the effects of curcumin on DNA damage and expression of DNA-repair proteins in human lung cancer. Thus, NCI-H460 cells were used to study the effects of curcumin on DNA damage and repair in vitro. We investigated curcumin induces DNA damage by comet the assay and 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining. The DNA damage/repair-related protein levels were examined and monitored by western blotting and confocal microscopy. Curcumin significantly increased the length of comet tails and DNA condensation in NCI-H460 cells. Curcumin reduced expression of DNA-repair proteins such as 14-3-3 protein sigma (14-3-3σ), O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), breast cancer susceptibility gene 1 (BRCA1), and mediator of DNA damage checkpoint 1 (MDC1). Curcumin also increased phosphorylation of p53 and Histone H2A.X (S140) in the nuclei of NCI-H460 cells. Taken together, our findings indicated that curcumin triggered DNA damage and inhibited expression of DNA-repair-associated proteins in NCI-H460 cells.

Keywords: Curcumin; DNA damage; DNA repair; human lung cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Curcumin / pharmacology*
  • DNA Damage / drug effects*
  • DNA Repair / drug effects*
  • DNA Repair / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Phosphorylation / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / genetics

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • Curcumin