Olea europaea Leaf Extract Improves the Efficacy of Temozolomide Therapy by Inducing MGMT Methylation and Reducing P53 Expression in Glioblastoma

Nutr Cancer. 2017 Aug-Sep;69(6):873-880. doi: 10.1080/01635581.2017.1339810. Epub 2017 Jul 18.

Abstract

Unmethylated O6-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter leads to Temozolomide (TMZ) resistance in most of the glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients. We previously investigated the synergistic effect of Olea europaea leaf extract (OLE) on TMZ cytotoxicity through modulating microRNA expression. To date, knowledge about the effect of OLE on MGMT methylation is insufficient. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the potential modulating effect of OLE on the TMZ response of GBM tumors through MGMT methylation. Exposure to 1 mg/mL OLE caused a significant induction of CpG island methylation in the MGMT gene using Methyl quantitative PCR assay (P < 0.001). In WST-1 analysis, the use of 350 µM TMZ plus 1 mg/mL OLE significantly increased the TMZ response of MGMT unmethylated cells (P = 0.003). Using the comet assay, the impact of 1 mg/mL OLE plus 350 µM TMZ on the formation of DNA strand breaks was significantly higher than that of 450 µM TMZ alone (P < 0.001) and Western blot analysis revealed that, when cells are treated with 1-mg/mL OLE, the total p53 protein levels tended to decrease. The results presented in this study uniquely demonstrated that OLE synergistically increased the TMZ response of GBM tumors by regulating MGMT gene methylation and p53 expression. However, further studies to validate our findings are required.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Comet Assay
  • CpG Islands
  • DNA Damage
  • DNA Methylation*
  • DNA Modification Methylases / genetics
  • DNA Modification Methylases / metabolism*
  • DNA Repair Enzymes / genetics
  • DNA Repair Enzymes / metabolism*
  • Dacarbazine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Dacarbazine / therapeutic use
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / genetics
  • Female
  • Glioblastoma / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Olea / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Plant Leaves / chemistry
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Temozolomide
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism*
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Plant Extracts
  • TP53 protein, human
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • Dacarbazine
  • DNA Modification Methylases
  • MGMT protein, human
  • DNA Repair Enzymes
  • Temozolomide