Diallyl Disulfide Inhibits N-acetyltransferase Activity and Gene Expression in Human Lung CancerA549 Cells

Abstract

Objectives. Acetylators are believed to affect cancer risk related to environmental carcinogen exposure. Individuals can be identified as slow or rapid acetylators by measuring NAT activity. Diallyl disulfide (DADS), one of the major components of garlic (Allium sativum), has been reported to exhibit anti-neoplasm activity. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of DADS on NAT activity and gene expresseion (NAT mRNA) in human lung A549 cancer cells. Methods. The amounts of N-acety-2-aminofluorene (AAF) and 2-aminofluorene (AF) were measured by high performance liquid chromatography before determining NAT activity. The amounts of NAT enzymes were examined and analyzed by flow cytometry. NAT gene expression(NAT mRNA) was examined by polymerase chain reaction and cDNA microarray. Results. DADS decreased the N-acetylation of AF in human lung A549 cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. Flow cytometric analysis indicated that DADS decreased the levels of NATprotein in A549 cells. PCR and cDNA microarray experiments showed that DADS inhibited NAT mRNA expression in A549 cells. Conclusions. DADS affected NAT activity by inhibiting gene expression (NAT mRNA); the result was a reduction in protein levels of NAT in A549 cells.