Role of methionine adenosyltransferase 2A and S-adenosylmethionine in mitogen-induced growth of human colon cancer cells

Background & Aims: Two genes (MAT1A and MAT2A) encode for methionine adenosyltransferase, an essential enzyme responsible for S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) biosynthesis. MAT1A is expressed in liver, whereas MAT2A is widely distributed. In liver, increased MAT2A expression is associated with growth, while SAMe inhibits MAT2A expression and growth. The role of MAT2A in colon cancer in unknown. The aims of this study were to examine whether MAT2A expression and SAMe and its metabolite methylthioadenosine (MTA) can modulate growth of colon cancer cells. Methods: Studies were conducted using resected colon cancer specimens, polyps from Min mice, and human colon cancer cell lines RKO and HT-29. MAT2A expression was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction and cell growth by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2-yl)-2,5-di-phenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Results : In 12 of 13 patients and all 9 polyps from Min mice, the MAT2A messenger RNA levels were 200%-340% of levels in adjacent normal tissues, respectively. Epidermal growth factor, insulin-like growth factor 1, and leptin increased growth and up-regulated MAT2A expression and MAT2A promoter activity in RKO and HT-29 cells. SAMe and MTA lowered the baseline expression of MAT2A and blocked the growth factor-mediated increase in MAT2A expression and growth in colon cancer cell lines. Importantly, the mitogenic effect of these growth factors was inhibited if MAT2A induction was prevented by RNA interference. SAMe and MTA supplementation in drinking water increased intestinal SAMe levels and lowered MAT2A expression. Conclusions: Similar to the liver, upregulation of MAT2A also provides a growth advantage and SAMe and MTA can block mitogenic signaling in colon cancer cells.