Induction of histone acetylation in rat liver and hepatoma by organosulfur compounds including diallyl disulfide.

In previous studies, diallyl disulfide induced histone acetylation and differentiation in DS19 mouse erythroleukemic cells. In the present work the potential induction of histone acetylation in tumor-bearing rats was examined. Increased acetylation of histones in liver and Morris hepatoma 7777 was induced by treatment of rats with diallyl disulfide (200 mg/kg body weight), allyl mercaptan (100 mg/kg body weight) and butanethiol (100 mg/kg body weight). The level of histone acetylation was greater in liver than in the hepatoma and the response to the organosulfur compounds tended to be less in the tumor. The data suggested that compounds in garlic or their metabolites may increase the acetylation of core nucleosomal histones and thereby favor cell differentiation.