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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BHNRC) » Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center » Diet, Genomics and Immunology Laboratory » Research » Research Project #431013

Research Project: Nutrient Gene Interaction in Prostate Cancer Cells: Effects of I3C/DIM on AhR-Mediated Pathway

Location: Diet, Genomics and Immunology Laboratory

Project Number: 8040-51530-057-008-I
Project Type: Interagency Reimbursable Agreement

Start Date: Jul 1, 2016
End Date: Jun 30, 2021

Objective:
1) To understand the mechanisms of action of diet-derived phytochemicals on cancer prevention. 2) To examine the effects of diet-derived phytochemicals on the Ah receptor pathway as a potential mechanism of action.

Approach:
Immune cells interact with prostate cancer cells in a tumor environment to promote the development of cancer. Arylhydrocarbon receptor (AhR) plays an important role in regulating immune cell responses such as the synthesis of the cytokine IL-1, a cancer promoting cytokine. Experiments will be conducted to test the hypothesis that phytochemicals are mediated through the inhibition of AhR pathway, and will attenuate the tumor promotion process. The cell culture system will be used to examine the effects of cruciferous vegetable-derived compounds (indole-3 carbinol, I3C; Diindolylmethane, DIM) on prostate cancer prevention. The role of AhR will be assessed by using siRNA knock-out technology. Molecular markers regulated by AhR will be used as an end point to determine whether the efficacies of I3C and DIM are mediated through AhR.