Comparison of Blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) and Vitamin C via Antioxidative and Epigenetic Effects in Human

BACKGROUND: Chemopreventive effects and the underlying mechanisms of blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) are not clearly understood in human. We hypothesized blueberry would work via antioxidative and epigenetic modulation, which is similar to vitamin C. METHODS: We performed a pilot and non-inferiority study in healthy young women (n = 12), who consumed vitamin C (1 g/d) or 240 mL of blueberry juice (total polyphenols 300 mg and proanthocyanidin 76 mg/d) for 2 weeks. We analyzed 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in their urine, and global and specific DNA methylation at the NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), or DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) genes in their blood. RESULTS: Urinary 8-OHdG levels were reduced by blueberry consumption rather than by vitamin C. The methylation (%) of the MTHFR was significantly decreased in blueberry-consumers and the antioxidant-susceptible subgroup, whose urinary MDA levels were decreased by the intervention. We also found a positive correlation between changes of urinary 8-OHdG and of DNA methylation at the MTHFR or the DNMT1 (P < 0.05). However, the genetic polymorphism of the MTHFR (C677T in exon 4) did not affect any above markers. CONCLUSIONS: Blueberry juice shows similar anti-oxidative or anti-premutagenic activity to vitamin C and the potential as a methylation inhibitor for the MTHFR and the DNMT1 in human.

Difference in expression of VEGF, bFGF and their receptors between the young and postmenopausal women with breast cancer / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the difference in the expression of VEGF, bFGF and their receptors between young and postmenopausal women with breast cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The expression of VEGF, FLK-1, bFGF and FLG in 40 young and 30 postmenopausal women with breast cancer was studied by immunohistochemical method (SABC), with its relation with axillary lymph node metastasis and the clinical and pathologic characteristics. The expression index between these two groups was compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The positive axillary lymph node rate and the mean expression of VEGF, bFGF in the young group were higher than postmenopausal group (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05), respectively. The mean expression of VEGF, bFGF, FLK-1 and FLG of axillary lymph node positive patients was higher than the negative ones both in young and postmenopausal women groups (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). There was also a significant difference in VEGF, bFGF, FLK-1, FLG and MVC between the stage 0 - II and stage III - IV (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01) in both groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Breast cancer angiogenesis, characterized by the high expression of VEGF and bFGF, is directly correlated with the high tumor aggressiveness in the young women.</p>