George Watts

Publications of George Watts

• A novel mechanism of acid and bile acid-induced DNA damage involving Na+/H+ exchanger: implication for Barrett's oesophagus.

  Authors: Aaron Goldman, Mohammad Shahidullah, David Goldman, Ludmila Khailova, George Watts, Nicholas Delamere, Katerina Dvorak

  Gut. 09/2010; 59(12):1606-16.

  Barrett's oesophagus is a premalignant disease associated with oesophageal adenocarcinoma. The major goal of this study was to determine the mechanism responsible for bile acid-induced alteration inBarrett's oesophagus is a premalignant disease associated with oesophageal adenocarcinoma. The major goal of this study was to determine the mechanism responsible for bile acid-induced alteration in intracellular pH (pH(i)) and its effect on DNA damage in cells derived from normal oesophagus (HET1A) or Barrett's oesophagus (CP-A). Cells were exposed to bile acid cocktail (BA) and/or acid in the presence/absence of inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) or sodium-hydrogen exchanger (NHE). Nitric oxide (NO), pH(i) and DNA damage were measured by fluorescent imaging and comet assay. Expression of NHE1 and NOS in cultured cells and biopsies from Barrett's oesophagus or normal squamous epithelium was determined by RT-PCR, immunoblotting or immunohistochemistry. A dose dependent decrease in pH(i) was observed in CP-A cells exposed to BA. This effect of BA is the consequence of NOS activation and increased NO production, which leads to NHE inhibition. Exposure of oesophageal cells to acid in combination with BA synergistically decreased pH(i). The decrease was more pronounced in CP-A cells and resulted in >2-fold increase in DNA damage compared to acid treatment alone. Examination of biopsies and cell lines revealed robust expression of NHE1 in Barrett's oesophagus but an absence of NHE1 in normal epithelium. The results of this study identify a new mechanism of bile acid-induced DNA damage. We found that bile acids present in the refluxate activate immediately all three isoforms of NOS, which leads to an increased NO production and NHE inhibition. This consequently results in increased intracellular acidification and DNA damage, which may lead to mutations and cancer progression. Therefore, we propose that in addition to gastric reflux, bile reflux should be controlled in patients with Barrett's oesophagus.

• DNA methylation changes in ovarian cancer are cumulative with disease progression and identify tumor stage.

  Authors: George Watts, Bernard Futscher, Nicholas Holtan, Koen DeGeest, Frederick Domann, Stephen Rose

  BMC medical genomics. 02/2008; 1(1):47.

  ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Hypermethylation of promoter CpG islands with associated loss of gene expression, and hypomethylation of CpG-rich repetitive elements that may destabilize the genome are commonABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Hypermethylation of promoter CpG islands with associated loss of gene expression, and hypomethylation of CpG-rich repetitive elements that may destabilize the genome are common events in most, if not all, epithelial cancers. METHODS: The methylation of 6,502 CpG-rich sequences spanning the genome was analyzed in 137 ovarian samples (ten normal, 23 low malignant potential, 18 stage I, 16 stage II, 54 stage III, and 16 stage IV) ranging from normal tissue through to stage IV cancer using a sequence-validated human CpG island microarray. The microarray contained 5' promoter-associated CpG islands as well as CpG-rich satellite and Alu repetitive elements. RESULTS: Results showed a progressive de-evolution of normal CpG methylation patterns with disease progression; 659 CpG islands showed significant loss or gain of methylation. Satellite and Alu sequences were primarily associated with loss of methylation, while promoter CpG islands composed the majority of sequences with gains in methylation. Since the majority of ovarian tumors are late stage when diagnosed, we tested whether DNA methylation profiles could differentiate between normal and low malignant potential (LMP) compared to stage III ovarian samples. We developed a class predictor consisting of three CpG-rich sequences that was 100% sensitive and 89% specific when used to predict an independent set of normal and LMP samples versus stage III samples. Bisulfite sequencing confirmed the NKX-2-3 promoter CpG island was hypermethylated with disease progression. In addition, 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine treatment of the ES2 and OVCAR ovarian cancer cell lines re-expressed NKX-2-3. Finally, we merged our CpG methylation results with previously published ovarian expression microarray data and identified correlated expression changes. CONCLUSION: Our results show that changes in CpG methylation are cumulative with ovarian cancer progression in a sequence-type dependent manner, and that CpG island microarrays can rapidly discover novel genes affected by CpG methylation in clinical samples of ovarian cancer.

• Profiling of selenomethionine responsive genes in colon cancer by microarray analysis.

  Authors: Anne-Christine Goulet, George Watts, Jean L Lord, Mark A Nelson

  Cancer biology & therapy. 05/2007; 6(4):494-503.

  High-selenium containing yeast is being evaluated in clinical trials against colon polyp recurrence. However, the molecular targets for the anticancer effects of selenium remain unclear. PreviousHigh-selenium containing yeast is being evaluated in clinical trials against colon polyp recurrence. However, the molecular targets for the anticancer effects of selenium remain unclear. Previous studies by our group demonstrated that selenomethionine-induced growth arrest appears to be mediated by activation of ERK and subsequent phosphorylation of RSK and histone H3. These results suggest that selenomethionine can alter gene expression. In the present study, we have used cDNA microarrays to determine whether gene expression differences exist in HCT116 colon cancer cells treated with selenomethionine. These experiments reveal statistically significant expression changes for 50 genes. Genes we found to increase with selenomethionine treatment include KLK6, ATOX1, SGK, GJB2, DAP-1, PLAU, VIM, DPYSL2, STC2 and PXN. Conversely, genes downregulated by selenomethionine include PRKACB, LIM, DEPP, MYC, CDH5, ELF3, VSNL1, SAT and EGLN3. Further analysis of those genes using chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments showed that phosphorylated histone H3 on serine 10 bound to the GJB2 promoter (connexin 26) or the serum glucocorticoid kinase promoter is increased with selenomethionine treatment. Cells overexpressing CX26 or DAP-1 displayed a reduced number of colonies which suggests that these two genes could play a functional role in the growth inhibitory effects of selenomethionine. These data support the notion that selenomethionine-induced growth inhibition is associated with global changes in gene expression. They also demonstrate that selenomethionine can modify chromatin state to alter gene transcription. Finally, our studies provide a practical foundation for the further development of biomarkers to monitor the efficacy of selenomethionine in clinical trials.