Vitamin D and the Epigenetic Machinery in Colon Cancer

Title:Vitamin D and the Epigenetic Machinery in Colon Cancer

Volume: 24 Issue: 9

Author(s): Meiyan Sun*Bin Guo*

Affiliation:

• Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77030,United States

• Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77030,United States

Keywords: Vitamin D, epigenetics, microRNA, DNA methylation, histone methylation, chemotherapy.

Abstract: Vitamin D is an important hormone that regulates many physiological processes related to human health. Through its nuclear receptor, VDR, vitamin D controls gene expression through genetic and epigenetic mechanisms. Increasing data have demonstrated the anti-cancer activities of vitamin D in various cancers, including colon cancer. This review summarizes the recent progresses in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of vitamin D and its interaction with the epigenetic machinery in colon cancer. Vitamin D changes the status of DNA methylation and histone modifications, resulting in the activation of tumor suppressors and inhibition of oncogenes. In addition, vitamin D activates the expression of tumor suppressing miRNAs, which contribute to the tumor suppressive activity. Further understanding of the epigenetic action of vitamin D will help the development of therapeutic strategies targeting the vitamin D signaling pathway without inducing the hypercalcemic side effects.

Cite this article as:

Sun Meiyan*, Guo Bin*, Vitamin D and the Epigenetic Machinery in Colon Cancer, Current Medicinal Chemistry 2017; 24 (9) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/0929867324666161117155325