Abstract
Inflammation contributes to the development of papillomas and squamous cell carcinomas in the well-established 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)/12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-l3-acetate (TPA) model of skin carcinogenesis. Synthetic oligonucleotides (ODN) containing repetitive TTAGGG motifs have been shown to block deleterious inflammatory reactions in murine models of autoimmunity, pneumonitis, and shock. This article examines whether treatment with suppressive (Sup) ODN can interfere with DMBA/TPA-induced inflammation, thereby reducing papilloma formation. Results indicate that Sup ODN block TPA-dependent skin hyperplasia, edema, and leukocytic infiltration. Sup ODN also inhibit the upregulation of genes encoding pro-oncogenic chemokines and other markers of inflammation including CXCL2, CCL2, COX-2, and ODC (ornithine decarboxylase). Of greatest import, Sup ODN reduce papilloma formation in a dose- and sequence-dependent manner. These findings suggest that Sup ODN may provide a novel means of preventing inflammation and associated oncogenesis.