The anticancer role of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids was closely associated with the increase of genomic DNA hydroxymethylation.

Background: Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 PUFAs) have significant multiple antitumor roles. However, whether epigenetic DNA hydroxymethylation enrolls in the anticancer process of omega-3 PUFAs is still not clear yet. Objective: To expound the interaction between the anti-tumor role of omega-3 PUFAs and the DNA demethylation pathway and thus provide a firm foundation for deepening our understanding on anticancer mechanism of omega-3 PUFAs. Methods: Colorectal Cancer (CRC) model rats were induced to generate tumor by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea and their counterparts treated with omega-3 PUFAs during the induction. The blood samples from different treatment groups of rats [Normal Control group (NC), colorectal cancer model group (CRC) and omega-3 PUFAs Medication Group (MG)] were used as experimental materials. Genomic 5-hydroxymethylocytosine (5hmC) content was quantified using LC-MS/MS, and the expression of ten-eleven translocation dioxygenase 1 (TETI), catalyzing the generation of 5hmC, was also evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR. Results: We observed lower tumor incidence and small tumor size in MG group when compared with CRC group, supporting the effective anticancer role of omega-3 PUFAs. Due to the formation of CRC, 5hmC level was dramatically dropped in CRC group when compared with the NC group. Notably, 5hmC percentage in MG group remarkably increased close to NC group and was significantly higher than that in the CRC group. Consistent alteration pattern of TETI expressions in mRNA was also observed in the tested groups of rats. Conclusion: The anticancer effect of omega-3 PUFAs was positively correlated with global 5hmC accumulation and TETI expression, suggesting DNA hydroxymethylation pathway was factually involved in the anticancer process of omega-3 PUFAs.