[Role of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 in DNA methylation changes induced by hydroquinone in human bronchial epithelial cell].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the DNA methylation changes induced by hydroquinone (HQ) in human bronchial epithelial cells and to explore the role of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-l (PARP-l) in this process.

METHODS

Human bronchial epithelial 16HBE cells and PARP-l-deficient 16HBE cells (16HBE-shPARP-l cells) were exposed to HQ (10, 20, 40, 60, and 80 µmol/L) for 48h, while control cells were treated with an equal volume of PBS solution. The changes in genomic DNA methylation were investigated by high-performance capillary electrophoresis, and the expression levels of PARP-l and DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) were measured.

RESULTS

The percentages of methylated DNA of overall genome (mCpG%) in 16HBE and 16HBE-shPARP-l cells were 4.89%±0.07% and 9.53%±0.51%, respectively; after treatment with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine for 72 h, mCpG% decreased to 3.07±0.12% and 6.34%±0.3%, respectively. The one-way analysis of variance revealed significant differences in mCpG% between the cells exposed to different concentrations of HQ in both 16HBE and 16HBE-shPARP-l groups (F = 61.25, P < 0.01; F = 60.36, P < 0.01). For 16HBE cells treated with HQ (10, 20, 40, 60, and 80 µmol/L), the mRNA expression levels of PARP-1 were 145.0%, 159.0%, 169.0%, 215.0%, and 236.0%, respectively, compared with those in the control group, with significant differences (P < 0.01 for all); for 16HBE-shPARP-l cells treated with HQ (10, 20, 40, 60, and 80 µmol/L), the mRNA expression levels of PARP-l were 170.0%, 223.0%, 264.0%, 327.0%, and 320.0%, respectively, compared with those in the control group, with significant differences (P < 0.01 for all). When the dose of HQ reached 20, 40, 60, and 80 µmol/L, the mRNA expression levels of DNMT1 in 16HBE group were 114.0%, 126.0%, 136.0%, and 162.0%, respectively, compared with those in the control group, with significant differences (P < 0.01 for all); when the dose of HQ reached 10, 20, 40, 60, and 80 µmol/L, the mRNA expression levels of DNMT1 in the 16HBE-shPARP-l group were 141.0%, 165.2%, 186.9%, 202.1%, and 217.3%, respectively, compared with those in the control group, with significant differences (P < 0.01 for all).

CONCLUSION

HQ can induce hypomethylation in 16HBE cells, and PARP-1 can regulate DNA methylation in 16HBE cells by influencing the expression and activity of DNMT1.