Epigenetic modulation of Chlorella (Chlorella vulgaris) on exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

• Published in: Environmental toxicology and pharmacology Vol. 40; no. 3; pp. 758 - 763
• Main Authors: Yang, Mihi, Youn, Je-In, Kim, Seung Joon, Park, Jong Y.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.11.2015
• Subjects: Adult; Chlorella; Chlorella vulgaris; Chlorella vulgaris - chemistry; Clinical trial; Cross-Over Studies; Dietary Supplements; DNA - drug effects; DNA Methylation - drug effects; Double-Blind Method; Emergency; Epigenesis, Genetic - drug effects; Epigenetic; Female; Global methylation; Humans; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - administration & dosage; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - toxicity; Pyrenes - urine; Random Allocation; Tablets; Young Adult; Clinical trial; Chlorella; Epigenetic; Global methylation; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
• ISSN: 1382-6689; 1872-7077; 1872-7077
• DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2015.09.005

•Chlorella reduced urinary1-OHP and global hypermethylation.•Chlorella induced association between urinary 1-OHP and global methylation.•Chlorella may affect ADME of PAHs and epigenetic alteration. DNA methylation in promoter region can be a new chemopreventive marker against polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). We performed a randomized, double blind and cross-over trial (N=12 healthy females) to evaluate chlorella (Chlorella vulgaris)-induced epigenetic modulation on exposure to PAHs. The subjects consumed 4 tablets of placebo or chlorella supplement (total chlorophyll ≈8.3mg/tablet) three times a day before meals for 2 weeks. When the subjects consumed chlorella, status of global hypermethylation (5-methylcytosine) was reduced, compared to placebo (p=0.04). However, DNA methylation at the DNMT1 or NQO1 was not modified by chlorella. We observed the reduced levels of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP), a typical metabolite of PAHs, by chlorella intake (p<0.1) and a positive association between chlorella-induced changes in global hypermethylation and urinary1-OHP (p<0.01). Therefore, our study suggests chlorella works for PAH-detoxification through the epigenetic modulation, the interference of ADME of PAHs and the interaction of mechanisms.