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Russo AF, Hay DL. CGRP physiology, pharmacology, and therapeutic targets: migraine and beyond. Physiol Rev 2023; 103:1565-1644. [PMID: 36454715 PMCID: PMC9988538 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00059.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 63.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a neuropeptide with diverse physiological functions. Its two isoforms (α and β) are widely expressed throughout the body in sensory neurons as well as in other cell types, such as motor neurons and neuroendocrine cells. CGRP acts via at least two G protein-coupled receptors that form unusual complexes with receptor activity-modifying proteins. These are the CGRP receptor and the AMY1 receptor; in rodents, additional receptors come into play. Although CGRP is known to produce many effects, the precise molecular identity of the receptor(s) that mediates CGRP effects is seldom clear. Despite the many enigmas still in CGRP biology, therapeutics that target the CGRP axis to treat or prevent migraine are a bench-to-bedside success story. This review provides a contextual background on the regulation and sites of CGRP expression and CGRP receptor pharmacology. The physiological actions of CGRP in the nervous system are discussed, along with updates on CGRP actions in the cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, immune, hematopoietic, and reproductive systems and metabolic effects of CGRP in muscle and adipose tissues. We cover how CGRP in these systems is associated with disease states, most notably migraine. In this context, we discuss how CGRP actions in both the peripheral and central nervous systems provide a basis for therapeutic targeting of CGRP in migraine. Finally, we highlight potentially fertile ground for the development of additional therapeutics and combinatorial strategies that could be designed to modulate CGRP signaling for migraine and other diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew F Russo
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
- Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
- Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Department of Veterans Affairs Health Center, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Debbie L Hay
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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2
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Liu Y, Yu Z, Zhu L, Ma S, Luo Y, Liang H, Liu Q, Chen J, Guli S, Chen X. Orchestration of MUC2 - The key regulatory target of gut barrier and homeostasis: A review. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 236:123862. [PMID: 36870625 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.123862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
The gut mucosa of human is covered by mucus, functioning as a crucial defense line for the intestine against external stimuli and pathogens. Mucin2 (MUC2) is a subtype of secretory mucins generated by goblet cells and is the major macromolecular component of mucus. Currently, there is an increasing interest on the investigations of MUC2, noting that its function is far beyond a maintainer of the mucus barrier. Moreover, numerous gut diseases are associated with dysregulated MUC2 production. Appropriate production level of MUC2 and mucus contributes to gut barrier function and homeostasis. The production of MUC2 is regulated by a series of physiological processes, which are orchestrated by various bioactive molecules, signaling pathways and gut microbiota, etc., forming a complex regulatory network. Incorporating the latest findings, this review provided a comprehensive summary of MUC2, including its structure, significance and secretory process. Furthermore, we also summarized the molecular mechanisms of the regulation of MUC2 production aiming to provide developmental directions for future researches on MUC2, which can act as a potential prognostic indicator and targeted therapeutic manipulation for diseases. Collectively, we elucidated the micro-level mechanisms underlying MUC2-related phenotypes, hoping to offer some constructive guidance for intestinal and overall health of mankind.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaxin Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Anshan Road 154, Heping District, Tianjin 300052, China; Tianjin Institute of Digestive Disease, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Anshan Road 154, Heping District, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Zihan Yu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Anshan Road 154, Heping District, Tianjin 300052, China; Tianjin Institute of Digestive Disease, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Anshan Road 154, Heping District, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Lanping Zhu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Anshan Road 154, Heping District, Tianjin 300052, China; Tianjin Institute of Digestive Disease, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Anshan Road 154, Heping District, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Shuang Ma
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Anshan Road 154, Heping District, Tianjin 300052, China; Tianjin Institute of Digestive Disease, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Anshan Road 154, Heping District, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Yang Luo
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Anshan Road 154, Heping District, Tianjin 300052, China; Tianjin Institute of Digestive Disease, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Anshan Road 154, Heping District, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Huixi Liang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Anshan Road 154, Heping District, Tianjin 300052, China; Tianjin Institute of Digestive Disease, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Anshan Road 154, Heping District, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Qinlingfei Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Anshan Road 154, Heping District, Tianjin 300052, China; Tianjin Institute of Digestive Disease, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Anshan Road 154, Heping District, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Jihua Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Anshan Road 154, Heping District, Tianjin 300052, China; Tianjin Institute of Digestive Disease, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Anshan Road 154, Heping District, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Sitan Guli
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Anshan Road 154, Heping District, Tianjin 300052, China; Tianjin Institute of Digestive Disease, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Anshan Road 154, Heping District, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Anshan Road 154, Heping District, Tianjin 300052, China; Tianjin Institute of Digestive Disease, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Anshan Road 154, Heping District, Tianjin 300052, China.
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3
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Tang Y, Gu S, Zhu L, Wu Y, Zhang W, Zhao C. LDHA: The Obstacle to T cell responses against tumor. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1036477. [PMID: 36518315 PMCID: PMC9742379 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1036477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has become a successful therapeutic strategy in certain solid tumors and hematological malignancies. However, this efficacy of immunotherapy is impeded by limited success rates. Cellular metabolic reprogramming determines the functionality and viability in both cancer cells and immune cells. Extensive research has unraveled that the limited success of immunotherapy is related to immune evasive metabolic reprogramming in tumor cells and immune cells. As an enzyme that catalyzes the final step of glycolysis, lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) has become a major focus of research. Here, we have addressed the structure, localization, and biological features of LDHA. Furthermore, we have discussed the various aspects of epigenetic regulation of LDHA expression, such as histone modification, DNA methylation, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation, and transcriptional control by noncoding RNA. With a focus on the extrinsic (tumor cells) and intrinsic (T cells) functions of LDHA in T-cell responses against tumors, in this article, we have reviewed the current status of LDHA inhibitors and their combination with T cell-mediated immunotherapies and postulated different strategies for future therapeutic regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Tang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shuangshuang Gu
- Shanghai Institute of Rheumatology, Shanghai Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Liqun Zhu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yujiao Wu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chuanxiang Zhao
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Reproductive Immunity, School of Medical Science and Laboratory Medicine, Jiangsu College of Nursing, Huai’an, Jiangsu, China
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Habano W, Miura T, Terashima J, Ozawa S. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor as a DNA methylation reader in the stress response pathway. Toxicology 2022; 470:153154. [PMID: 35301058 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2022.153154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) mediates various cellular responses upon exposure to exogenous and endogenous stress factors. In these responses, AhR plays a dual role as a stress sensor for detecting various AhR ligands and as a transcription factor that upregulates the expression of downstream effector genes, such as those encoding drug-metabolizing enzymes. As a transcription factor, it selectively binds to the unmethylated form of a specific sequence called the xenobiotic responsive element (XRE). We suggest that AhR is a novel DNA methylation reader, unlike classical methylation readers, such as methyl-CpG-binding protein 2, which binds to methylated sequences. Under physiological conditions of continuous exposure to endogenous AhR ligands, such as kynurenine, methylation states of the individual target XREs must be strictly regulated to select and coordinate the expression of downstream genes responsible for maintaining homeostasis in the body. In contrast, long-term exposure to AhR ligands frequently leads to changes in the methylation patterns around the XRE sequence. These data indicate that AhR may contribute to the adaptive cellular response to various stresses by modulating DNA methylation. Thus, the DNA methylation profile of AhR target genes should be dynamically controlled through a balance between robustness and flexibility under both physiological and stress conditions. AhR is a pivotal player in the regulation of stress response as it shows versatility by functioning as a stress sensor, methylation reader, and putative methylation modulator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wataru Habano
- Division of Pharmacodynamics and Molecular Genetics, Department of Clinical Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Iwate Medical University, Shiwa 028-3694, Iwate, Japan.
| | - Toshitaka Miura
- Division of Pharmacodynamics and Molecular Genetics, Department of Clinical Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Iwate Medical University, Shiwa 028-3694, Iwate, Japan
| | - Jun Terashima
- Division of Pharmacodynamics and Molecular Genetics, Department of Clinical Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Iwate Medical University, Shiwa 028-3694, Iwate, Japan
| | - Shogo Ozawa
- Division of Pharmacodynamics and Molecular Genetics, Department of Clinical Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Iwate Medical University, Shiwa 028-3694, Iwate, Japan
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Mucin expression, epigenetic regulation and patient survival: A toolkit of prognostic biomarkers in epithelial cancers. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2021; 1876:188538. [PMID: 33862149 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2021.188538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Twenty mucin genes have been identified and classified in two groups (encoding secreted and membrane-bound proteins). Secreted mucins participate in mucus formation by assembling a 3-dimensional network via oligomerization, whereas membrane-bound mucins are anchored to the outer membrane mediating extracellular interactions and cell signaling. Both groups have been associated with carcinogenesis progression in epithelial cancers, and are therefore considered as potential therapeutic targets. In the present review, we discuss the link between mucin expression patterns and patient survival and propose mucins as prognosis biomarkers of epithelial cancers (esophagus, gastric, pancreatic, colorectal, lung, breast or ovarian cancers). We also investigate the relationship between mucin expression and overall survival in the TCGA dataset. In particular, epigenetic mechanisms regulating mucin gene expression, such as aberrant DNA methylation and histone modification, are interesting as they are also associated with diagnosis or prognosis significance. Indeed, mucin hypomethylation has been shown to be associated with carcinogenesis progression and was linked to prognosis in colon cancer or pancreatic cancer patients. Finally we describe the relationship between mucin expression and non-coding RNAs that also may serve as biomarkers. Altogether the concomitant knowledge of specific mucin-pattern expression and epigenetic regulation could be translated as biomarkers with a better specificity/sensitivity performance in several epithelial cancers.
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Yamashita MSDA, Melo EO. Mucin 2 (MUC2) promoter characterization: an overview. Cell Tissue Res 2018; 374:455-463. [PMID: 30218241 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-018-2916-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2018] [Accepted: 08/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Transgenic livestock have been studied with a well-known interest in improving quantitative and qualitative traits. In order to direct heterologous gene expression, it is indispensable to identify and characterize a promoter suitable for directing the expression of the gene of interest (GOI) in a tissue-specific way. The gastrointestinal tract is a desirable target for gene expression in several mammalian models. Throughout the surface of the intestinal epithelium, there is an intricate polymer network, formed by gel-forming mucins (especially MUC2 and MUC5AC, of which MUC2 is the major one), which plays a protective role due to the formation of a physical, chemical and immunological barrier between the organism and the environment. The characterization of the gel-forming mucins is difficult because of their large size and repetitive DNA sequences and domains. The main mucin in the small and large intestine, mucin 2 (MUC2), is expressed specifically in goblet cells. MUC2 plays an important role in intestinal homeostasis and its disruption is associated with several diseases and carcinomas. This mucin is also an important marker for elucidating mechanisms that regulate differentiation of the secretory cell lineage. This review presents the state of the art of MUC2 promoter structure and functional characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eduardo O Melo
- EMBRAPA Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, PqEB Av W5 Norte, Brasilia, DF, 70770-917, Brazil
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Abstract
The discovery of CpG islands (CGIs) and the study of their structure and properties run parallel to the development of molecular biology in the last two decades of the twentieth century and to the development of high-throughput genomic technologies at the turn of the millennium. First identified as discrete G + C-rich regions of unmethylated DNA in several vertebrates, CGIs were soon found to display additional distinctive chromatin features from the rest of the genome in terms of accessibility and of the epigenetic modifications of their histones. These features, together with their colocalization with promoters and with origins of DNA replication in mammals, highlighted their relevance in the regulation of genomic processes. Recent approaches have shown with unprecedented detail the dynamics and diversity of the epigenetic landscape of CGIs during normal development and under pathological conditions. Also, comparative analyses across species have started revealing how CGIs evolve and contribute to the evolution of the vertebrate genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Antequera
- Instituto de Biología Funcional y Genómica, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)/Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.
| | - Adrian Bird
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Michael Swann Building, Edinburgh, EH9 3BF, UK
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Human DNA (cytosine-5)-methyltransferases: a functional and structural perspective for epigenetic cancer therapy. Biochimie 2017; 139:137-147. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2017.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2017] [Accepted: 06/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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Epigenetic mechanisms underlying the toxic effects associated with arsenic exposure and the development of diabetes. Food Chem Toxicol 2017; 107:406-417. [PMID: 28709971 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2017.07.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2017] [Revised: 07/07/2017] [Accepted: 07/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to inorganic arsenic (iAs) is a major threat to the human health worldwide. The consumption of arsenic in drinking water and other food products is associated with the risk of development of type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The available experimental evidence indicates that epigenetic alterations may play an important role in the development of diseases that are linked with exposure to environmental toxicants. iAs seems to be associated with the epigenetic modifications such as alterations in DNA methylation, histone modifications, and micro RNA (miRNA) abundance. OBJECTIVE This article reviewed epigenetic mechanisms underlying the toxic effects associated with arsenic exposure and the development of diabetes. METHOD Electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus and Google scholar were searched for published literature from 1980 to 2017. Searched MESH terms were "Arsenic", "Epigenetic mechanism", "DNA methylation", "Histone modifications" and "Diabetes". RESULTS There are various factors involved in the pathogenesis of T2DM but it is assumed that arsenic consumption causes the epigenetic alterations both at the gene-specific level and generalized genome level. CONCLUSION The research indicates that exposure from low to moderate concentrations of iAs is linked with the epigenetic effects. In addition, it is evident that, arsenic can change the components of the epigenome and hence induces diabetes through epigenetic mechanisms, such as alterations in glucose transport and/or metabolism and insulin expression/secretion.
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The inheritance of epigenetic defects. MED GENET-BERLIN 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s11825-017-0120-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal disease with limited treatment options and extensive gene expression changes identified in the lung parenchyma. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that epigenetic factors contribute to dysregulation of gene expression in IPF lung. Most importantly, risk factors that predispose to IPF - age, sex, cigarette smoke, and genetic variants - all influence epigenetic marks. This review summarizes recent findings of association of DNA methylation and histone modifications with the presence of disease and fibroproliferation. RECENT FINDINGS In addition to targeted studies focused on specific gene loci, genome-wide profiles of DNA methylation demonstrate widespread DNA methylation changes in IPF lung tissue and a substantial effect of these methylation changes on gene expression. Genetic loci that have been recently associated with IPF also contain differentially methylated regions, suggesting that genetic and epigenetic factors act in concert to dysregulate gene expression in IPF lung. SUMMARY Although we are in very early stages of understanding the role of epigenetics in IPF, the potential for the use of epigenetic marks as biomarkers and therapeutic targets is high and discoveries made in this field will likely bring us closer to better prognosticating and treating this fatal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Britney A. Helling
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora CO
| | - Ivana V. Yang
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora CO
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora CO
- Center for Genes, Environment and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver CO
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A natural antisense transcript regulates acetylcholinesterase gene expression via epigenetic modification in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2014; 55:242-51. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2014.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2014] [Revised: 09/03/2014] [Accepted: 09/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Yiannakopoulou E. Etiology of familial breast cancer with undetected BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations: clinical implications. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2013; 37:1-8. [PMID: 24306927 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-013-0158-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/24/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Familial breast cancer accounts for 20-30 % of all breast cancer cases. Mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes account for the majority of high risk families with both early onset breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Most of the families with less than six breast cancer cases and no ovarian cancer do not carry BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations that can be detected using routine sequencing protocols. Here, we aimed to review the etiology of familial breast cancer in cases without BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. RESULTS After excluding BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations, factors proposed to contribute to familial breast cancer include: chance clustering of apparently sporadic cases, shared lifestyle, monogenic inheritance, i.e., dominant gene mutations associated with a high risk (TP53, PTEN, STK11), dominant gene mutations associated with a relatively low risk (ATM, BRIP1, RLB2), recessive gene mutations associated with horizontal inheritance patterns (sister-sister), and polygenic inheritance where susceptibility to familial breast cancer is thought to be conferred by a large number of low risk alleles. CONCLUSIONS Current evidence suggests that in the majority of cases with BRCA1 and BRCA2 negative familial breast cancer the etiology is due to interactions of intermediate or low risk alleles with environmental and lifestyle factors. Thus, a careful selection of patients submitted to genetic testing is needed. Clearly, further research is required to fully elucidate the etiology of non-BRCA familial breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugenia Yiannakopoulou
- Department of Basic Medical Lessons Faculty of Health and Caring Professions, Technological Educational Institute of Athens, Eleutheriou Benizelou 106 Kallithea, 17676, Athens, Greece,
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Epigenetic repression of the dopamine receptor D4 in pediatric tumors of the central nervous system. J Neurooncol 2013; 116:237-49. [PMID: 24264533 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-013-1313-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2013] [Accepted: 11/10/2013] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic alterations are common events in cancer. Using a genome wide methylation screen (Restriction Landmark Genomic Scanning-RLGS) we identified the gene for the dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) as tumor-specific methylated. As DRD4 is involved in early brain development and may thus be involved in developmentally dependent tumors of the CNS in children epigenetic deregulation of DRD4 and its functional consequences were analyzed in vitro. CpG methylation of DRD4 was detected in 18/24 medulloblastomas, 23/29 ependymomas, 6/6 high-grade gliomas, 7/10 CNS PNET and 8/8 cell lines by qCOBRA and bisulfite sequencing. Real-time RT-PCR demonstrated a significantly inferior expression of DRD4 in primary tumors compared to cell lines and non-malignant control tissues. Epigenetic deregulation of DRD4 was analyzed in reexpression experiments and restoration of DRD4 was observed in medulloblastoma (MB) cells treated with 5-Aza-CdR. Reexpression was not accompanied by demethylation of the DRD4 promoter but by a significant decrease of H3K27me3 and of bound enhancer of zeste homologue 2 (EZH2). Knockdown of EZH2 demonstrated DRD4 as a direct target for inhibition by EZH2. Stimulation of reexpressed DRD4 resulted in an activation of ERK1/2. Our analyses thus disclose that DRD4 is epigenetically repressed in CNS tumors of childhood. DRD4 is a direct target of EZH2 in MB cell lines. EZH2 appears to dominate over aberrant DNA methylation in the epigenetic inhibition of DRD4, which eventually leads to inhibition of a DRD4-mediated stimulation of the ERK1/2 kinase pathway.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND A remarkable correspondence exists between the cytogenetic locations of the known fragile sites and frequently reported sites of hypermethylation. The best-known features of fragile sites are sequence motifs that are prone to the spontaneous formation of a non-B DNA structure. These facts, coupled with the known enzymological specificities of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1), the ATP-dependent and actin-dependent helicases, and the ten-eleven translocation (TET) dioxygenases, suggest that these enzymes are involved in an epigenetic cycle that maintains the unmethylated state at these sites by resolving non-B structure, preventing both the sequestration of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) and hypermethylation in normal cells. PRESENTATION OF THE HYPOTHESIS The innate tendency of DNA sequences present at fragile sites to form non-B DNA structures results in de novo methylation of DNA at these sites that is held in check in normal cells by the action of ATP-dependent and actin-dependent helicases coupled with the action of TET dioxygenases. This constitutes a previously unrecognized epigenetic repair cycle in which spontaneously forming non-B DNA structures formed at fragile sites are methylated by DNMTs as they are removed by the action of ATP-dependent and actin-dependent helicases, with the resulting nascent methylation rendered non-transmissible by TET dioxygenases. TESTING THE HYPOTHESIS A strong prediction of the hypothesis is that knockdown of ATP-dependent and actin-dependent helicases will result in enhanced bisulfite sensitivity and hypermethylation at non-B structures in multiple fragile sites coupled with global hypomethylation. IMPLICATIONS OF THE HYPOTHESIS A key implication of the hypothesis is that helicases, like the lymphoid-specific helicase and alpha thalassemia/mental retardation syndrome X-linked helicase, passively promote accurate maintenance of DNA methylation by preventing the sequestration of DNMTs at sites of unrepaired non-B DNA structure. When helicase action is blocked due to mutation or downregulation of the respective genes, DNMTs stall at unrepaired non-B structures in fragile sites after methylating them and are unable to methylate other sites in the genome, resulting in hypermethylation at non-B DNA-forming sites, along with hypomethylation elsewhere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven S Smith
- City of Hope, 1500 East Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010, USA.
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Kleiner D, Bersényi A, Fébel H, Hegedűs V, Mátis E, Sárdi É. Transmethylation and the redox homeostasis. Orv Hetil 2013; 154:1180-7. [DOI: 10.1556/oh.2013.29623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Transmethylation modifies configuration and proceeds via formaldehyde. It has a significant role for example in epigenetic regulation. The whole methyl-pool can be evaluated by the measurement of bound formaldehyde. Aim: The bound formaldehyde was measured in wheat, bean, beetroot, cabbage, broiler- and rabbit liver. The relationship between transmethylation and redox homeosthasis was studied in the liver of domestic animals, and in the rat model of fatty liver. Method: The diet of rats was enriched with cholesterol, sunflower oil and cholic acid. The bound formaldehyde was determined by overpressured layer chromatography. The hydrogen-donating ability was measured with 1.1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazylt free radical using spectrophotometric measurement. Results: Beans had the most bound formaldehyde. The liver of broilers possessed significantly elevated hydrogen-donating ability and transmethylation ability. Rats with severe fatty liver had significantly less bound formaldehyde and the hydrogen-donating ability tendentiously decreased. Conclusions: These results draw attention to the diet, especially in obesity and obesity-related diseases. Orv. Hetil., 2013, 154, 1180–1187.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dénes Kleiner
- Semmelweis Egyetem, Gyógyszerésztudományi Kar Farmakognóziai Intézet Budapest Üllői út 26. 1085
| | - András Bersényi
- Szent István Egyetem, Állatorvos-tudományi Kar Állattenyésztési, Takarmányozástani és Laborállat-tudományi Intézet Budapest
| | - Hedvig Fébel
- Állattenyésztési és Takarmányozási Kutatóintézet Herceghalom
| | - Viktor Hegedűs
- Semmelweis Egyetem, Gyógyszerésztudományi Kar Farmakognóziai Intézet Budapest Üllői út 26. 1085
| | - Eszter Mátis
- Semmelweis Egyetem, Gyógyszerésztudományi Kar Farmakognóziai Intézet Budapest Üllői út 26. 1085
| | - Éva Sárdi
- Budapesti Corvinus Egyetem, Kertészettudományi Kar Genetika és Növénynemesítés Tanszék Budapest
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DNA methylation in the malignant transformation of meningiomas. PLoS One 2013; 8:e54114. [PMID: 23349797 PMCID: PMC3551961 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0054114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2012] [Accepted: 12/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Meningiomas are central nervous system tumors that originate from the meningeal coverings of the brain and spinal cord. Most meningiomas are pathologically benign or atypical, but 3-5% display malignant features. Despite previous studies on benign and atypical meningiomas, the key molecular pathways involved in malignant transformation remain to be determined, as does the extent of epigenetic alteration in malignant meningiomas. In this study, we explored the landscape of DNA methylation in ten benign, five atypical and four malignant meningiomas. Compared to the benign tumors, the atypical and malignant meningiomas demonstrate increased global DNA hypomethylation. Clustering analysis readily separates malignant from atypical and benign tumors, implicating that DNA methylation patterns may serve as diagnostic biomarkers for malignancy. Genes with hypermethylated CpG islands in malignant meningiomas (such as HOXA6 and HOXA9) tend to coincide with the binding sites of polycomb repressive complexes (PRC) in early developmental stages. Most genes with hypermethylated CpG islands at promoters are suppressed in malignant and benign meningiomas, suggesting the switching of gene silencing machinery from PRC binding to DNA methylation in malignant meningiomas. One exception is the MAL2 gene that is highly expressed in benign group and silenced in malignant group, representing de novo gene silencing induced by DNA methylation. In summary, our results suggest that malignant meningiomas have distinct DNA methylation patterns compared to their benign and atypical counterparts, and that the differentially methylated genes may serve as diagnostic biomarkers or candidate causal genes for malignant transformation.
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Ross JP, Shaw JM, Molloy PL. Identification of differentially methylated regions using streptavidin bisulfite ligand methylation enrichment (SuBLiME), a new method to enrich for methylated DNA prior to deep bisulfite genomic sequencing. Epigenetics 2012; 8:113-27. [PMID: 23257838 PMCID: PMC3549874 DOI: 10.4161/epi.23330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
We have developed a method that enriches for methylated cytosines by capturing the fraction of bisulfite-treated DNA with unconverted cytosines. The method, called streptavidin bisulfite ligand methylation enrichment (SuBLiME), involves the specific labeling (using a biotin-labeled nucleotide ligand) of methylated cytosines in bisulfite-converted DNA. This step is then followed by affinity capture, using streptavidin-coupled magnetic beads. SuBLiME is highly adaptable and can be combined with deep sequencing library generation and/or genomic complexity-reduction. In this pilot study, we enriched methylated DNA from Csp6I-cut complexity-reduced genomes of colorectal cancer cell lines (HCT-116, HT-29 and SW-480) and normal blood leukocytes with the aim of discovering colorectal cancer biomarkers. Enriched libraries were sequenced with SOLiD-3 technology. In pairwise comparisons, we scored a total of 1,769 gene loci and 33 miRNA loci as differentially methylated between the cell lines and leukocytes. Of these, 516 loci were differently methylated in at least two promoter-proximal CpG sites over two discrete Csp6I fragments. Identified methylated gene loci were associated with anatomical development, differentiation and cell signaling. The data correlated with good agreement to a number of published colorectal cancer DNA methylation biomarkers and genomic data sets. SuBLiME is effective in the enrichment of methylated nucleic acid and in the detection of known and novel biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason P Ross
- Preventative Health National Research Flagship, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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Alpini G, Glaser SS, Zhang JP, Francis H, Han Y, Gong J, Stokes A, Francis T, Hughart N, Hubble L, Zhuang SM, Meng F. Regulation of placenta growth factor by microRNA-125b in hepatocellular cancer. J Hepatol 2011; 55:1339-45. [PMID: 21703189 PMCID: PMC3184370 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2011.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2010] [Revised: 03/27/2011] [Accepted: 04/04/2011] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS microRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small noncoding RNAs that can regulate gene expression by translation repression or mRNA degradation. Our aim was to evaluate the role of aberrantly expressed miRNAs in hepatocellular cancer (HCC). METHODS miRNA expression in HCC tissues and cells was evaluated by qPCR array and Taqman miRNA assay. Cell proliferation, motility, invasion, and the angiogenesis index were quantitated using commercial assays. DNA methylation status, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) mRNA expression was quantitated by real-time PCR analysis. RESULTS miRNA profiling identified a decrease in miR-125b expression in HCC tumor tissues and cell lines. The expression of miR-125b was significantly increased by the methylation inhibitor 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine in HCC cells but not in normal controls, suggesting that the expression of miR-125b could be epigenetically modulated. Methylation-specific PCR revealed hypermethylation status of miR-125b in HCC cells compared to non-malignant controls. Cell proliferation, anchorage-independent growth, cell migration, invasion, and angiogenesis were significantly decreased by the introduction of miR-125b precursor in HCC cell lines. Placenta growth factor was identified as a target of miR-125b by bioinformatics analysis and experimentally verified using luciferase reporter constructs. Overexpression of miR-125b in HCC cells decreased PIGF expression, and altered the angiogenesis index. Furthermore, modulation of miR-125b also distorted expression of MMP-2 and -9, the mediators of enzymatic degradation of the extracellular matrix. CONCLUSIONS Our studies showing epigenetic silencing of miR-125b contributes to an invasive phenotype provide novel mechanistic insights and identify a potential target mechanism that could be manipulated for therapeutic benefit in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianfranco Alpini
- Department of Medicine and Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Texas A&M HSC COM and Scott & White Hospital, Temple, TX 76504, USA.
| | - Shannon S. Glaser
- Department of Medicine and Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Texas A&M HSC COM and Scott & White Hospital, Temple, Texas
| | - Jing-Ping Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, PR China
| | - Heather Francis
- Department of Medicine and Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Texas A&M HSC COM and Scott & White Hospital, Temple, Texas., Research & Education, Scott & White Hospital, Temple, Texas
| | - Yuyan Han
- Department of Medicine and Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Texas A&M HSC COM and Scott & White Hospital, Temple, Texas
| | - Jiao Gong
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, PR China
| | - Allison Stokes
- Research & Education, Scott & White Hospital, Temple, Texas
| | - Taylor Francis
- Research & Education, Scott & White Hospital, Temple, Texas
| | - Nathan Hughart
- Research & Education, Scott & White Hospital, Temple, Texas
| | - Levi Hubble
- Research & Education, Scott & White Hospital, Temple, Texas
| | - Shi-Mei Zhuang
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, PR China
| | - Fanyin Meng
- Department of Medicine and Scott & White Digestive Disease Research Center, Texas A&M HSC COM and Scott & White Hospital, Temple, Texas., Research & Education, Scott & White Hospital, Temple, Texas
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Xu Y, Hu B, Choi AJ, Gopalan B, Lee BH, Kalady MF, Church JM, Ting AH. Unique DNA methylome profiles in CpG island methylator phenotype colon cancers. Genome Res 2011; 22:283-91. [PMID: 21990380 DOI: 10.1101/gr.122788.111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
A subset of colorectal cancers was postulated to have the CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP), a higher propensity for CpG island DNA methylation. The validity of CIMP, its molecular basis, and its prognostic value remain highly controversial. Using MBD-isolated genome sequencing, we mapped and compared genome-wide DNA methylation profiles of normal, non-CIMP, and CIMP colon specimens. Multidimensional scaling analysis revealed that each specimen could be clearly classified as normal, non-CIMP, and CIMP, thus signifying that these three groups have distinctly different global methylation patterns. We discovered 3780 sites in various genomic contexts that were hypermethylated in both non-CIMP and CIMP colon cancers when compared with normal colon. An additional 2026 sites were found to be hypermethylated in CIMP tumors only; and importantly, 80% of these sites were located in CpG islands. These data demonstrate on a genome-wide level that the additional hypermethylation seen in CIMP tumors occurs almost exclusively at CpG islands and support definitively that these tumors were appropriately named. When these sites were examined more closely, we found that 25% were adjacent to sites that were also hypermethylated in non-CIMP tumors. Thus, CIMP is also characterized by more extensive methylation of sites that are already prone to be hypermethylated in colon cancer. These observations indicate that CIMP tumors have specific defects in controlling both DNA methylation seeding and spreading and serve as an important first step in delineating molecular mechanisms that control these processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaomin Xu
- Quantitative Health Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA
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Abstract
Disruption of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methylation patterns has emerged as one of the possible origins of leukemogenesis. Calcitonin (CALCA) gene is a hot-spot for gene hypermethylation in acute leukemias. This study aimed to systematically analyze the methylation status of CALCA gene in pediatric acute leukemia using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) and assess its value as a potential prognostic biomarker. The study population consisted of 70 children divided into; 35 acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) and 35 acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients. CALCA gene was found to be hypermethylated in 54.3% of AML and 65.7% of ALL patients. CALCA hypermethylation was neither correlated to any of the clinicopathologic characteristics of patients, standard prognostic factors nor response to induction therapy (P>0.05). Hypermethylated AML and ALL patients displayed poorer clinical outcome when compared with hypomethylated counterparts as evidenced by high relapse and mortality rates with the occurrence of early relapse (P<0.05). The estimated overall and disease-free survival rates at 2.5-years were significantly shorter for hypermethylated patients in both groups (P<0.01). Our results suggest that CALCA gene methylation pattern is an independent prognostic factor in pediatric acute leukemia that could characterize a group of patients with enhanced risk of relapse and death.
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Li W, Mu D, Song L, Zhang J, Liang J, Wang C, Liu N, Tian F, Li X, Zhang W, Wang X. Molecular mechanism of silymarin-induced apoptosis in a highly metastatic lung cancer cell line anip973. Cancer Biother Radiopharm 2011; 26:317-24. [PMID: 21711112 DOI: 10.1089/cbr.2010.0892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Silymarin, the main flavonoid constituent element extracted from Silybum marianum possessing antioxidant activity, is already known to be able to block the NF-κB activation process and result in cell apoptosis, implicating silymarin's potential to control cancer cell growth. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this study, based upon the above assumption, silymarin was administered to a highly metastatic lung cancer cell line Anip973 to test silymarin's role in cancer cell proliferation. RESULTS Silymarin had significant inhibitory effects on the proliferation of Anip973 cells in a dose-dependent and time-response manner within 48 hours. Silymarin can induce Anip973 apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS Silymarin may in vitro inhibit the proliferation of the human lung adenocarcinoma cell line Anip973 and induce apoptosis via the mitochondria-dependent caspase cascade pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhai Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shannxi, P.R. China
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Jonckheere N, Skrypek N, Van Seuningen I. Mucins and pancreatic cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2010; 2:1794-812. [PMID: 24281201 PMCID: PMC3840449 DOI: 10.3390/cancers2041794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2010] [Revised: 10/14/2010] [Accepted: 10/18/2010] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is characterized by an often dramatic outcome (five year survival < 5%) related to a late diagnosis and a lack of efficient therapy. Therefore, clinicians desperately need new biomarkers and new therapeutic tools to develop new efficient therapies. Mucins belong to an ever increasing family of O-glycoproteins. Secreted mucins are the main component of mucus protecting the epithelia whereas membrane-bound mucins are thought to play important biological roles in cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, in cell signaling and in modulating biological properties of cancer cells. In this review, we will focus on the altered expression pattern of mucins in pancreatic cancer, from the early neoplastic lesion Pancreatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia (PanIN) to invasive pancreatic carcinomas, and the molecular mechanisms (including genetic and epigenetic regulation) and signaling pathways known to control their expression. Moreover, we will discuss the recent advances about the biology of both secreted and membrane-bound mucins and their key roles in pancreatic carcinogenesis and resistance to therapy. Finally, we will discuss exciting opportunities that mucins offer as potential therapeutic targets in pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Jonckheere
- INSERM, U837, Jean-Pierre Aubert Research Center, Team 5 "Mucins, epithelial differentiation and carcinogenesis", Lille, France.
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Dyachenko OV, Shevchuk TV, Buryanov YI. Structural and functional features of the 5-methylcytosine distribution in the eukaryotic genome. Mol Biol 2010. [DOI: 10.1134/s0026893310020019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Abstract
Arsenic is a nonmutagenic human carcinogen that induces tumors through unknown mechanisms. A growing body of evidence suggests that its carcinogenicity results from epigenetic changes, particularly in DNA methylation. Changes in gene methylation status, mediated by arsenic, have been proposed to activate oncogene expression or silence tumor suppressor genes, leading to long-term changes in the activity of genes controlling cell transformation. Mostly descriptive, and often contradictory, studies have demonstrated that arsenic exposure is associated with both hypo- and hyper-methylation at various genetic loci in vivo or in vitro. This ambiguity has made it difficult to assess whether the changes induced by arsenic are causally involved in the transformation process or are simply a reflection of the altered physiology of rapidly dividing cancer cells. Here, we discuss the evidence supporting changes in DNA methylation as a cause of arsenic carcinogenesis and highlight the strengths and limitations of these studies, as well as areas where consistencies and inconsistencies exist.
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Affiliation(s)
- John F Reichard
- Department of Environmental Health & Center for Environmental Genetics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 3223 Eden Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0056, USA.
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Macrophages of multiple sclerosis patients display deficient SHP-1 expression and enhanced inflammatory phenotype. J Transl Med 2009; 89:742-59. [PMID: 19398961 PMCID: PMC2725397 DOI: 10.1038/labinvest.2009.32] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies in mice have demonstrated that the protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1 is a crucial negative regulator of proinflammatory cytokine signaling, TLR signaling, and inflammatory gene expression. Furthermore, mice genetically lacking SHP-1 (me/me) display a profound susceptibility to inflammatory CNS demyelination relative to wild-type mice. In particular, SHP-1 deficiency may act predominantly in inflammatory macrophages to increase CNS demyelination as SHP-1-deficient macrophages display coexpression of inflammatory effector molecules and increased demyelinating activity in me/me mice. Recently, we reported that PBMCs of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients have a deficiency in SHP-1 expression relative to normal control subjects indicating that SHP-1 deficiency may play a similar role in MS as to that seen in mice. Therefore, it became essential to examine the specific expression and function of SHP-1 in macrophages from MS patients. Herein, we document that macrophages of MS patients have deficient SHP-1 protein and mRNA expression relative to those of normal control subjects. To examine functional consequences of the lower SHP-1, the activation of STAT6, STAT1, and NF-kappaB was quantified and macrophages of MS patients showed increased activation of these transcription factors. In accordance with this observation, several STAT6-, STAT1-, and NF-kappaB-responsive genes that mediate inflammatory demyelination were increased in macrophages of MS patients following cytokine and TLR agonist stimulation. Supporting a direct role of SHP-1 deficiency in altered macrophage function, experimental depletion of SHP-1 in normal subject macrophages resulted in an increased STAT/NF-kappaB activation and increased inflammatory gene expression to levels seen in macrophages of MS patients. In conclusion, macrophages of MS patients display a deficiency of SHP-1 expression, heightened activation of STAT6, STAT1, and NF-kappaB and a corresponding inflammatory profile that may be important in controlling macrophage-mediated demyelination in MS.
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Van Seuningen I, Vincent A. Mucins: a new family of epigenetic biomarkers in epithelial cancers. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009; 3:411-27. [PMID: 23485209 DOI: 10.1517/17530050902852697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epigenetic regulation of gene expression is a common feature of cancer development and progression. The search for new biomarkers and tools to detect cancer in its early stages has unveiled the usefulness of epigenetics and genes epigenetically regulated as potential targets. Among them, genes encoding mucins have been shown to be regulated by DNA methylation and histone modifications in epithelial cancer cells. These genes encode either secreted glycoproteins necessary for epithelial homeostasis or membrane-bound glycoproteins that participate in tumor progression. OBJECTIVE The important biological functions played by these large molecules in pathophysiology of the epithelia make them key genes to target to propose new therapeutic strategies and new diagnostic and/or prognostic tools in cancer. RESULTS In that context, the recent data regarding the epigenetic regulation of these genes are reported and their potential as biomarkers in cancer is discussed. Mucin genes are also potentially interesting to study as they may be regulated by miRNAs but also regulate miRNA activity. CONCLUSION Epigenetic regulation of mucin genes is at its dawn, but there is great potential in that research to (with new technologies and high-throughput methods) provide quickly new biomarkers (diagnostic and/or prognostic), help tumor identification/classification and propose new therapeutic targets to the clinician and pathologist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Van Seuningen
- Inserm, U837, Jean-Pierre Aubert Research Center, Team 5 Epithelial Differentiation and Carcinogenesis, Place de Verdun, 59045 Lille cedex, France +33 320 29 88 67 ; +33 320 53 85 62 ;
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Clark J, Smith SS. Secondary structure at a hot spot for DNA methylation in DNA from human breast cancers. Cancer Genomics Proteomics 2008; 5:241-251. [PMID: 19129555 PMCID: PMC2989428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The VNTR at c-Ha-ras resides in a hotspot for DNA methylation on chromosome 11 in human tumors, where it is flanked by two MspI restriction sites. We have investigated the nature of the MspI site polymorphism at the c-Ha-ras VNTR observed in variety of tumors including breast cancer.We find that the MspI site 5' to the VNTR is present in a Non-B DNA structure with single-strand character that renders it accessible to bisulfite modification under native conditions, while the MspI site 3' to the VNTR appears to reside in a normal B-form structure that is inaccessible to bisulfite. The non-B DNA structure accounts for the observed polymorphism since MspI cannot cleave single-stranded DNA and control experiments show that the MspI sites were neither mutated nor abnormally methylated. Southern blotting showed that structural polymorphism was present in tumor DNA and tumor adjacent normal tissue DNA but absent from lymphocyte DNA from the same patients. We conclude that the non-B DNA structural polymorphism detected in human tumors near the c-Ha-ras VNTR is a self-perpetuating epigenetic mark that manifests itself spontaneously during breast carcinogenesis in a methylation hot spot.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jarrod Clark
- City of Hope, 1500 E. Duarte Rd., Duarte, CA 91010, USA
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30
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Christophi GP, Hudson CA, Gruber RC, Christophi CP, Mihai C, Mejico LJ, Jubelt B, Massa PT. SHP-1 deficiency and increased inflammatory gene expression in PBMCs of multiple sclerosis patients. J Transl Med 2008; 88:243-55. [PMID: 18209728 PMCID: PMC2883308 DOI: 10.1038/labinvest.3700720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies in mice have demonstrated that the protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1 is a crucial negative regulator of cytokine signaling, inflammatory gene expression, and demyelination in central nervous system. The present study investigates a possible similar role for SHP-1 in the human disease multiple sclerosis (MS). The levels of SHP-1 protein and mRNA in PBMCs of MS patients were significantly lower compared to normal subjects. Moreover, promoter II transcripts, expressed from one of two known promoters, were selectively deficient in MS patients. To examine functional consequences of the lower SHP-1 in PBMCs of MS patients, we measured the intracellular levels of phosphorylated STAT6 (pSTAT6). As expected, MS patients had significantly higher levels of pSTAT6. Accordingly, siRNA to SHP-1 effectively increased the levels of pSTAT6 in PBMCs of controls to levels equal to MS patients. Additionally, transduction of PBMCs with a lentiviral vector expressing SHP-1 lowered pSTAT6 levels. Finally, multiple STAT6-responsive inflammatory genes were increased in PBMCs of MS patients relative to PBMCs of normal subjects. Thus, PBMCs of MS patients display a stable deficiency of SHP-1 expression, heightened STAT6 phosphorylation, and an enhanced state of activation relevant to the mechanisms of inflammatory demyelination.
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Affiliation(s)
- George P Christophi
- Department of Neurology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
,Department of Microbiology & Immunology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Chad A Hudson
- Department of Neurology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
,Department of Microbiology & Immunology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Ross C Gruber
- Department of Neurology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | | | - Cornelia Mihai
- Department of Neurology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Luis J Mejico
- Department of Neurology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Burk Jubelt
- Department of Neurology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
,Department of Microbiology & Immunology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Paul T Massa
- Department of Neurology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
,Department of Microbiology & Immunology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
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Neveling K, Kalb R, Florl AR, Herterich S, Friedl R, Hoehn H, Hader C, Hartmann FH, Nanda I, Steinlein C, Schmid M, Tonnies H, Hurst CD, Knowles MA, Hanenberg H, Schulz WA, Schindler D. Disruption of the FA/BRCA pathway in bladder cancer. Cytogenet Genome Res 2007; 118:166-76. [PMID: 18000367 DOI: 10.1159/000108297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2007] [Accepted: 02/23/2007] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Bladder carcinomas frequently show extensive deletions of chromosomes 9p and/or 9q, potentially including the loci of the Fanconi anemia (FA) genes FANCC and FANCG. FA is a rare recessive disease due to defects in anyone of 13 FANC genes manifesting with genetic instability and increased risk of neoplasia. FA cells are hypersensitive towards DNA crosslinking agents such as mitomycin C and cisplatin that are commonly employed in the chemotherapy of bladder cancers. These observations suggest the possibility of disruption of the FA/BRCA DNA repair pathway in bladder tumors. However, mutations in FANCC or FANCG could not be detected in any of 23 bladder carcinoma cell lines and ten surgical tumor specimens by LOH analysis or by FANCD2 immunoblotting assessing proficiency of the pathway. Only a single cell line, BFTC909, proved defective for FANCD2 monoubiquitination and was highly sensitive towards mitomycin C. This increased sensitivity was restored specifically by transfer of the FANCF gene. Sequencing of FANCF in BFTC909 failed to identify mutations, but methylation of cytosine residues in the FANCF promoter region was demonstrated by methylation-specific PCR, HpaII restriction and bisulfite DNA sequencing. Methylation-specific PCR uncovered only a single instance of FANCF promoter hypermethylation in surgical specimens of further 41 bladder carcinomas. These low proportions suggest that in contrast to other types of tumors silencing of FANCF is a rare event in bladder cancer and that an intact FA/BRCA pathway might be advantageous for tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Neveling
- Department of Human Genetics, University of WürzburgBiozentrum, B107, Am Hubland, DE-97074 Würzburg, Germany
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Vincent A, Perrais M, Desseyn JL, Aubert JP, Pigny P, Van Seuningen I. Epigenetic regulation (DNA methylation, histone modifications) of the 11p15 mucin genes (MUC2, MUC5AC, MUC5B, MUC6) in epithelial cancer cells. Oncogene 2007; 26:6566-76. [PMID: 17471237 DOI: 10.1038/sj.onc.1210479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The human genes MUC2, MUC5AC, MUC5B and MUC6 are clustered on chromosome 11 and encode large secreted gel-forming mucins. The frequent occurrence of their silencing in cancers and the GC-rich structure of their promoters led us to study the influence of epigenetics on their expression. Pre- and post-confluent cells were treated with demethylating agent 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine and histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, trichostatin A. Mapping of methylated cytosines was performed by bisulfite-treated genomic DNA sequencing. Histone modification status at the promoters was assessed by chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. Our results indicate that MUC2 was regulated by site-specific DNA methylation associated with establishment of a repressive histone code, whereas hypermethylation of MUC5B promoter was the major mechanism responsible for its silencing. DNA methyltransferase 1 was identified by small interfering RNA approach as a regulator of MUC2 and MUC5B endogenous expression that was potentiated by HDAC2. MUC2 and MUC5B epigenetic regulation was cell-specific, depended on cell differentiation status and inhibited their activation by Sp1. The expression of MUC5AC was rarely influenced by epigenetic mechanisms and methylation of MUC6 promoter was not correlated to its silencing. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the important role for methylation and/or histone modifications in regulating the 11p15 mucin genes in epithelial cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Vincent
- Inserm, U560, Place de Verdun, Lille cedex, France
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Abstract
Epigenetic gene inactivation in transformed cells involves many 'belts of silencing'. One of the best-known lesions of the malignant cell is the transcriptional repression of tumor-suppressor genes by promoter CpG island hypermethylation. We are in the process of completing the molecular dissection of the entire epigenetic machinery involved in methylation-associated silencing, such as DNA methyltransferases, methyl-CpG binding domain proteins, histone deacetylases, histone methyltransferases, histone demethylases and Polycomb proteins. The first indications are also starting to emerge about how the combination of cellular selection and targeted pathways leads to abnormal DNA methylation. One thing is certain already, promoter CpG island hypermethylation of tumor-suppressor genes is a common hallmark of all human cancers. It affects all cellular pathways with a tumor-type specific profile, and in addition to classical tumor-suppressor and DNA repair genes, it includes genes involved in premature aging and microRNAs with growth inhibitory functions. The importance of hypermethylation events is already in evidence at the bedside of cancer patients in the form of cancer detection markers and chemotherapy predictors, and in the approval of epigenetic drugs for the treatment of hematological malignancies. In the very near future, the synergy of candidate gene approaches and large-scale epigenomic technologies, such as methyl-DIP, will yield the complete DNA hypermethylome of cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manel Esteller
- Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory, Spanish National Cancer Centre (CNIO), Melchor Fernandez Almagro 3, 28029 Madrid, Spain.
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Schipper RG, van den Heuvel LP, Verhofstad AAJ, De Abreu RA. Polyamines and DNA methylation in childhood leukaemia. Biochem Soc Trans 2007; 35:331-5. [PMID: 17371272 DOI: 10.1042/bst0350331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Both polyamine metabolism and DNA methylation play an important role in normal and malignant growth. Specific enzyme inhibitors or drugs that interfere with these metabolic pathways have proven to be potential anticancer agents. Since DNA methylation and polyamine metabolism depend on a common substrate, i.e. S-adenosylmethionine, interaction between both pathways can be expected. Little is known about the relationship between these pathways but studies are available indicating that polyamines and DNA methylation are directly or indirectly interconnected, metabolically as well as physiologically with respect to the regulation of cell growth, differentiation and cancer development. These considerations give rise to the possibility that, by targeting both pathways, a more profound and effective inhibitory effect on the growth of malignant cells can be achieved. In previous studies we showed that 6-MP (6-mercaptopurine) as well as MTX (methotrexate), well-known drugs in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, inhibit DNA methylation and induce apoptosis in malignant blood cells. Our recent results show that combined treatment with 6-MP, MTX and drugs interfering with polyamine metabolism has additive/synergistic effects on the growth, cell viability and/or apoptotic death of leukaemic cells. Such a combination therapy could have great clinical value for patients in which therapy using inhibitors of thiopurines/purine metabolism has failed.
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Affiliation(s)
- R G Schipper
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Centre Nijmegen, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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Burgers WA, Blanchon L, Pradhan S, de Launoit Y, Kouzarides T, Fuks F. Viral oncoproteins target the DNA methyltransferases. Oncogene 2007; 26:1650-5. [PMID: 16983344 PMCID: PMC3350866 DOI: 10.1038/sj.onc.1209950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 200] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2006] [Revised: 07/04/2006] [Accepted: 07/05/2006] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Small DNA tumour viruses have evolved a number of mechanisms to drive nondividing cells into S phase. Virally encoded oncoproteins such as adenovirus E1A and human papillomavirus (HPV) E7 can bind an array of cellular proteins to override proliferation arrest. The DNA methyltransferase Dnmt1 is the major mammalian enzyme responsible for maintaining CpG methylation patterns in the cell following replication. One of the hallmarks of tumour cells is disrupted DNA methylation patterns, highlighting the importance of the proper regulation of DNA methyltransferases in normal cell proliferation. Here, we show that adenovirus 5 E1A and HPV-16 E7 associate in vitro and in vivo with the DNA methyltransferase Dnmt1. Consistent with this interaction, we find that E1A and E7 can purify DNA methyltransferase activity from nuclear extracts. These associations are direct and mediated by the extreme N-terminus of E1A and the CR3 zinc-finger domain of E7. Furthermore, we find that a point mutant at leucine 20 of E1A, a residue known to be critical for its transformation functions, is unable to bind Dnmt1 and DNA methyltransferase activity. Finally, both E1A and E7 can stimulate the methyltransferase activity of Dnmt1 in vitro. Our results provide the first indication that viral oncoproteins bind and regulate Dnmt1 enzymatic activity. These observations open up the possibility that this association may be used to control cellular proliferation pathways and suggest a new mechanism by which small DNA tumour viruses can steer cells through the cell cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- WA Burgers
- Wellcome Trust/CRUK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Division of Medical Virology, University of Cape Town Medical School, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - L Blanchon
- Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Faculty of Medicine, Free University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Y de Launoit
- UMR 8161, CNRS Institut Pasteur de Lille, Universités de Lille 1 et 2, Institut de Biologie de Lille, Lille, Cedex, France
| | - T Kouzarides
- Wellcome Trust/CRUK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - F Fuks
- Wellcome Trust/CRUK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Faculty of Medicine, Free University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
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Vidal DO, Paixão VA, Brait M, Souto EX, Caballero OL, Lopes LF, Vettore AL. Aberrant methylation in pediatric myelodysplastic syndrome. Leuk Res 2007; 31:175-81. [PMID: 16890288 DOI: 10.1016/j.leukres.2006.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2005] [Revised: 06/19/2006] [Accepted: 06/22/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aberrant methylation of gene promoter region is responsible for inappropriate gene silencing, and it has been associated to initiation and progression of cancer. Aberrant promoter methylation is frequently observed in adult patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), but in pediatric patients it has been poorly investigated. METHODS We examined the promoter methylation status of 13 genes in bone marrow cells collected at diagnosis of 21 pediatric patients with MDS (subtype RAEB or RAEB-t). For this analysis, we performed sodium bisulfite treatment of genomic DNA, followed by methylation specific PCR (MSP). RESULTS In pediatric MDS samples, we observed two genes frequently methylated: CALCA was methylated in 85.7% (18/21) of the analyzed samples and CDKN2B in 50% (6/12). CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that CALCA and CDKN2B are frequently methylated in pediatric MDS. It suggests that aberrant methylation in pediatric MDS seems to be similar to adult MDS, thus pediatric patients could be also benefited with treatment using demethylating agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel O Vidal
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, São Paulo Branch, Rua Prof. Antônio Prudente, 109, 4 andar, CEP 01509-010 São Paulo, S.P., Brazil
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Paixão VA, Vidal DO, Caballero OL, Vettore AL, Tone LG, Ribeiro KB, Lopes LF. Hypermethylation of CpG island in the promoter region of CALCA in acute lymphoblastic leukemia with central nervous system (CNS) infiltration correlates with poorer prognosis. Leuk Res 2006; 30:891-4. [PMID: 16712930 DOI: 10.1016/j.leukres.2005.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2005] [Revised: 11/25/2005] [Accepted: 11/26/2005] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Promoter hypermethylation occurs early in leukemogenesis and seems to be associated with poor prognosis in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The methylation status of the promoter region of six genes was analyzed in 71 children with ALL using methylation specific PCR (MSP). Calcitonin (CALCA) and E-cadherin (CDH1) were the most frequently methylated genes in this group of patients. Considering the patients with central nervous system (CNS) infiltration, the estimated 2-year overall survival (OS) was 20% for those with methylation in CALCA promoter and 85% for those without (p=0.001). Our results suggest that the hypermethylation of CALCA promoter is a promising prognostic marker and may predict a higher risk for ALL patients with CNS infiltration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valéria A Paixão
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, São Paulo Branch, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Arce C, Segura-Pacheco B, Perez-Cardenas E, Taja-Chayeb L, Candelaria M, Dueñnas-Gonzalez A. Hydralazine target: from blood vessels to the epigenome. J Transl Med 2006; 4:10. [PMID: 16507100 PMCID: PMC1413557 DOI: 10.1186/1479-5876-4-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2005] [Accepted: 02/28/2006] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Hydralazine was one of the first orally active antihypertensive drugs developed. Currently, it is used principally to treat pregnancy-associated hypertension. Hydralazine causes two types of side effects. The first type is an extension of the pharmacologic effect of the drug and includes headache, nausea, flushing, hypotension, palpitation, tachycardia, dizziness, and salt retention. The second type of side effects is caused by immunologic reactions, of which the drug-induced lupus-like syndrome is the most common, and provides clues to underscoring hydralazine's DNA demethylating property in connection with studies demonstrating the participation of DNA methylation disorders in immune diseases. Abnormalities in DNA methylation have long been associated with cancer. Despite the fact that malignant tumors show global DNA hypomethylation, regional hypermethylation as a means to silence tumor suppressor gene expression has attracted the greatest attention. Reversibility of methylation-induced gene silencing by pharmacologic means, which in turns leads to antitumor effects in experimental and clinical scenarios, has directed efforts toward developing clinically useful demethylating agents. Among these, the most widely used comprise the nucleosides 5-azacytidine and 2'deoxy-5-azacytidine; however, these agents, like current cytotoxic chemotherapy, causes myelosuppression among other side effects that could limit exploitation of their demethylating properties. Among non-nucleoside DNA demethylating drugs currently under development, the oral drug hydralazine possess the ability to reactivate tumor suppressor gene expression, which is silenced by promoter hypermethylation in vitro and in vivo. Decades of extensive hydralazine use for hypertensive disorders that demonstrated hydralazine's clinical safety and tolerability supported its testing in a phase I trial in patients with cancer, confirming its DNA demethylating activity. Hydralazine is currently being evaluated, along with histone deacetylase inhibitors either alone or as adjuncts to chemotherapy and radiation, for hematologic and solid tumors in phase II studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Arce
- Division of Clinical Research, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Blanca Segura-Pacheco
- Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (IIB)/Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Enrique Perez-Cardenas
- Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (IIB)/Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Lucia Taja-Chayeb
- Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (IIB)/Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Myrna Candelaria
- Division of Clinical Research, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Alfonso Dueñnas-Gonzalez
- Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (IIB)/Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
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Andrianifahanana M, Moniaux N, Batra SK. Regulation of mucin expression: mechanistic aspects and implications for cancer and inflammatory diseases. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2006; 1765:189-222. [PMID: 16487661 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2006.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2005] [Revised: 12/30/2005] [Accepted: 01/03/2006] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Mucins are large multifunctional glycoproteins whose primary functions are to protect and lubricate the surfaces of epithelial tissues lining ducts and lumens within the human body. Several lines of evidence also support the involvement of mucins in more complex biological processes such as epithelial cell renewal and differentiation, cell signaling, and cell adhesion. Recent studies have uncovered the role of select mucins in the pathogenesis of cancer, underscoring the importance of a detailed knowledge about mucin biology. Under normal physiological conditions, the production of mucins is optimally maintained by a host of elaborate and coordinated regulatory mechanisms, thereby affording a well-defined pattern of tissue-, time-, and developmental state-specific distribution. However, mucin homeostasis may be disrupted by the action of environmental and/or intrinsic factors that affect cellular integrity. This results in an altered cell behavior that often culminates into a variety of pathological conditions. Deregulated mucin production has indeed been associated with numerous types of cancers and inflammatory disorders. It is, therefore, crucial to comprehend the underlying basis of molecular mechanisms controlling mucin production in order to design and implement adequate therapeutic strategies for combating these diseases. Herein, we discuss some physiologically relevant regulatory aspects of mucin production, with a particular emphasis on aberrations that pertain to pathological situations. Our views of the achievements, the conceptual and technical limitations, as well as the future challenges associated with studies of mucin regulation are exposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahefatiana Andrianifahanana
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985870 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, 68198-5870, USA
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Dueñas-González A, Lizano M, Candelaria M, Cetina L, Arce C, Cervera E. Epigenetics of cervical cancer. An overview and therapeutic perspectives. Mol Cancer 2005; 4:38. [PMID: 16248899 PMCID: PMC1291396 DOI: 10.1186/1476-4598-4-38] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2005] [Accepted: 10/25/2005] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Cervical cancer remains one of the greatest killers of women worldwide. It is difficult to foresee a dramatic increase in cure rate even with the most optimal combination of cytotoxic drugs, surgery, and radiation; therefore, testing of molecular targeted therapies against this malignancy is highly desirable. A number of epigenetic alterations occur during all stages of cervical carcinogenesis in both human papillomavirus and host cellular genomes, which include global DNA hypomethylation, hypermetylation of key tumor suppressor genes, and histone modifications. The reversible nature of epigenetic changes constitutes a target for transcriptional therapies, namely DNA methylation and histone deacetylase inhibitors. To date, studies in patients with cervical cancer have demonstrated the feasibility of reactivating the expression of hypermethylated and silenced tumor suppressor genes as well as the hyperacetylating and inhibitory effect upon histone deacetylase activity in tumor tissues after treatment with demethylating and histone deacetylase inhibitors. In addition, detection of epigenetic changes in cytological smears, serum DNA, and peripheral blood are of potential interest for development of novel biomolecular markers for early detection, prediction of response, and prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfonso Dueñas-González
- Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología/Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INCan/IIB), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico (UNAM), Mexico City. Mexico
| | - Marcela Lizano
- Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología/Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INCan/IIB), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico (UNAM), Mexico City. Mexico
| | - Myrna Candelaria
- Division of Clinical Research, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INCan), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Lucely Cetina
- Division of Clinical Research, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INCan), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Claudia Arce
- Division of Clinical Research, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INCan), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Eduardo Cervera
- Division of Clinical Research, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INCan), Mexico City, Mexico
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Abstract
Over the past 100 years, our understanding of the pathogenesis of lung cancer has advanced impressively. Environmental carcinogens and a gene locus determining susceptibility have been identified. The pathology of lung cancer has been classified into categories with major clinical implications. The cellular and molecular genetic changes underlying lung cancer have become better understood over the past 25 years, but the stepwise progression of respiratory epithelium from normal to neoplastic is not yet well demarcated, limiting abilities to advance early detection and chemoprevention. The translation of improved understanding of dominant signal transduction pathways in lung cancer to rationally designed therapeutic strategies has had recent successes, demonstrating a proof of principle for targeted therapy in lung cancer. Improvement in overall patient outcomes has been stubbornly slow and will require concerted efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- York E Miller
- Pulmonary 111A, Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 1055 Clermont Street, Denver, CO 80220-3808, USA.
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Tischkowitz M, Ameziane N, Waisfisz Q, De Winter JP, Harris R, Taniguchi T, D'Andrea A, Hodgson SV, Mathew CG, Joenje H. Bi-allelic silencing of the Fanconi anaemia gene FANCF in acute myeloid leukaemia. Br J Haematol 2003; 123:469-71. [PMID: 14617007 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2141.2003.04640.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Fanconi anaemia (FA) is a chromosomal instability disorder associated with a high risk of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Previous work has shown that the AML cell line CHRF-288, derived from a sporadic AML-M7 patient, does not express FANCF protein and exhibits a cellular FA phenotype. We show that this phenotype is corrected by a FANCF-expressing plasmid and that the absence of FANCF protein is explained by hypermethylation of the promoter region of the FANCF gene. As FANCF is localized in a hot-spot region for somatic hypermethylation (11p15), FANCF silencing might be an early step in sporadic carcinogenesis, including leukaemogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Tischkowitz
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Division of Genetics and Development Guy's, King's and St Thomas's School of Medicine, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, UK
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43
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Abstract
The DNA methylation profile of cancer cells is frequently characterized by global hypomethylation and simultaneous hypermethylation of selected CpG island gene promoters. In recent years, the epigenetic phenomenon of DNA promoter methylation has gained increasing recognition as an important mechanism for transcriptional inactivation of cancer related genes. Studies on both liquid and solid tumors have revealed myriad aberrant methylation events, some of which may provide important clues to the pathogenesis of these tumors. The identification of these methylation alterations and elucidation of the mechanistic events surrounding them are of prime importance, as the methylation status of cancer cells can now be manipulated in vivo with demethylating chemotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura J Rush
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
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Maekawa M, Inomata M, Sasaki MS, Kaneko A, Ushiama M, Sugano K, Takayama J, Kanno T. Electrophoretic Variant of a Lactate Dehydrogenase Isoenzyme and Selective Promoter Methylation of the LDHA Gene in a Human Retinoblastoma Cell Line. Clin Chem 2002. [DOI: 10.1093/clinchem/48.11.1938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
AbstractBackground: Lactate dehydrogenase (LD), a tetrameric product of the genes LDHA and LDHB, may be increased in sera of cancer patients. A variant isoenzyme with electrophoretic mobility between LD2 and LD3 (LD2ex) has been described in patients, but its molecular nature is largely unknown.Methods: A newly established retinoblastoma cell line, NCC-RbC-51 (R51), showed an isoenzyme pattern with only two bands, LD1 and LD2ex. We investigated the isoenzymes by Northern blot, Western blot, and methylation analysis and PCR.Results: Northern blot analysis revealed that R51 cells expressed no wild-type/somatic LDHA mRNA, but did express a small amount of LDHA-related mRNA with a slightly higher molecular mass. Western blot analysis confirmed the anti-LDHA-reactive protein with a 3-kDa higher molecular mass. Treatment of R51 cells with the demethylating agent 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine restored the expression of the LD2, -3, -4, and -5 isoenzymes. PCR analysis of sodium bisulfite-treated genomic DNA revealed that the CpG island in the promoter region around exon a of the LDHA gene was completely methylated. Reverse transcription-PCR analysis and direct sequencing revealed that R51 cells expressed a RNA with the sequence of the human homolog of a murine testis-specific variant that has exon 0 as the 5′ noncoding sequence. LDHB was expressed normally in R51 cells.Conclusions: The somatic LDHA in R51 cells is transcriptionally silenced by promoter hypermethylation around exon a, leaving only LDHB to be expressed normally and a testis-specific variant transcript of LDHA containing exon 0. LD2ex possibly results from tetramerization of three wild-type LDHB molecules and one variant LDHA product.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masato Maekawa
- Department of Laboratory Medicine,Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu 431-3192, Japan
| | - Motoko Inomata
- Pharmacology Division, National Cancer Center Research Institute
| | - Masao S Sasaki
- Radiation Biology Center, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | | | | | - Kokichi Sugano
- Oncogene Research Unit/Cancer Prevention Unit, Tochigi Cancer Center Research Institute, Utsunomiya 320-0834, Japan
| | - Jun Takayama
- Department of Pediatrics, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
| | - Takashi Kanno
- Department of Laboratory Medicine,Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu 431-3192, Japan
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Esteller M. CpG island hypermethylation and tumor suppressor genes: a booming present, a brighter future. Oncogene 2002; 21:5427-40. [PMID: 12154405 DOI: 10.1038/sj.onc.1205600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 858] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
We have come a long way since the first reports of the existence of aberrant DNA methylation in human cancer. Hypermethylation of CpG islands located in the promoter regions of tumor suppressor genes is now firmly established as an important mechanism for gene inactivation. CpG island hypermethylation has been described in almost every tumor type. Many cellular pathways are inactivated by this type of epigenetic lesion: DNA repair (hMLH1, MGMT), cell cycle (p16(INK4a), p15(INK4b), p14(ARF)), apoptosis (DAPK), cell adherence (CDH1, CDH13), detoxification (GSTP1), etc em leader However, we still know little of the mechanisms of aberrant methylation and why certain genes are selected over others. Hypermethylation is not an isolated layer of epigenetic control, but is linked to the other pieces of the puzzle such as methyl-binding proteins, DNA methyltransferases and histone deacetylase, but our understanding of the degree of specificity of these epigenetic layers in the silencing of specific tumor suppressor genes remains incomplete. The explosion of user-friendly technologies has given rise to a rapidly increasing list of hypermethylated genes. Careful functional and genetic studies are necessary to determine which hypermethylation events are truly relevant for human tumorigenesis. The development of CpG island hypermethylation profiles for every form of human tumors has yielded valuable pilot clinical data in monitoring and treating cancer patients based in our knowledge of DNA methylation. Basic and translational will both be needed in the near future to fully understand the mechanisms, roles and uses of CpG island hypermethylation in human cancer. The expectations are high.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manel Esteller
- Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory, Molecular Pathology Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncologicas, 28029 Madrid, Spain
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Abstract
Statistics rate colorectal adenocarcinoma as the most common cause of cancer death on exclusion of smoking-related neoplasia. However, the reported accumulation of genetic lesions over the adenoma to adenocarcinoma sequence cannot wholly account for the neoplastic phenotype. Recently, heritable, epigenetic changes in DNA methylation, in association with a repressive chromatin structure, have been identified as critical determinants of tumour progression. Indeed, the transcriptional silencing of both established and novel tumour suppressor genes has been attributed to the aberrant cytosine methylation of promoter-region CpG islands. This review aims to set these epigenetic changes within the context of the colorectal adenoma to adenocarcinoma sequence. The role of cytosine methylation in physiological and pathological gene silencing is discussed and the events behind aberrant cytosine methylation in ageing and cancer are appraised. Emphasis is placed on the interrelationships between epigenetic and genetic lesions and the manner in which they cooperate to define a CpG island methylator phenotype at an early stage in tumourigenesis. Finally, the applications of epigenetics to molecular pathology and patient diagnosis and treatment are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Jubb
- Academic Unit of Pathology, Algernon Firth Building, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK.
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Abstract
Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is a clonal disorder of the pluripotent haematopoietic stem cell. The typical triphasic course of CML starts with the premalignant chronic phase initiated by BCR-ABL hybrid oncogene formation. Secondary genetic and epigenetic aberrations accompany the progression to the accelerated phase and fatal blastic crisis. Properly timed bone marrow transplantation in eligible patients can result in durable remissions or cure. Both of these states are often accompanied by a long-term persistence of quiescent leukaemic cells. Accordingly, a "functional cure" (i.e. tumour dormancy induction), rather than complete eradication of the malignant cells, is an adequate therapeutical goal. The level of the residual BCR-ABL-positive clones should be monitored and salvage treatment initiated whenever these quiescent leukaemic cells exit their dormant state.
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Affiliation(s)
- P J Shteper
- Department of Haematology, Hadassah University Hospital, Ein-Karem, P.O.B. 12000, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
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48
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Gratchev A, Siedow A, Bumke-Vogt C, Hummel M, Foss HD, Hanski ML, Kobalz U, Mann B, Lammert H, Mansmann U, Stein H, Riecken EO, Hanski C. Regulation of the intestinal mucin MUC2 gene expression in vivo: evidence for the role of promoter methylation. Cancer Lett 2001; 168:71-80. [PMID: 11368880 DOI: 10.1016/s0304-3835(01)00498-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
In the present work we investigated the in vivo regulation of the mucin gene MUC2, which is overexpressed in all mucinous colorectal carcinomas. The inhibition of methylation by 5-azadeoxycytidine induces de novo expression of MUC2 in the colon carcinoma cell line COLO 205. The expression is retained in xenograft tissue and the cells give rise to MUC2-expressing tumours in nude mice. The strong expression of MUC2 in the normal human goblet cells and in the tissue of human mucinous colorectal carcinomas is associated with the average methylation of about 50% at every investigated CpG site of the MUC2 promoter. In contrast, MUC2 promoter in the non-expressing normal columnar cells and in the non-mucinous carcinoma tissue is methylated to nearly 100%. These data show that (i) low methylation of MUC2 promoter is associated with MUC2 expression in vivo and (ii) the pattern of MUC2 promoter methylation in the normal goblet or columnar cells most closely resembles that in mucinous or non-mucinous colorectal carcinomas, respectively. They indicate that MUC2 expression in vivo is regulated by promoter methylation and support the hypothesis that cells with goblet-like differentiation give rise to mucinous colonic carcinomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Gratchev
- Medizinische Klinik I, Gastroenterologie und Infektiologie, Universitätsklinikum Benjamin Franklin der Freien Universität Berlin, D-12200, Berlin, Germany
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49
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Roman J, Castillejo JA, Jimenez A, Bornstein R, Gonzalez MG, del Carmen Rodriguez M, Barrios M, Maldonado J, Torres A. Hypermethylation of the calcitonin gene in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is associated with unfavourable clinical outcome. Br J Haematol 2001; 113:329-38. [PMID: 11380396 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2141.2001.02764.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
We analysed calcitonin (CALC1) gene hypermethylation using semiquantitative differential polymerase chain reaction in 105 patients with adult (n = 49) and childhood (n = 56) acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), and studied the association of CALC1 hypermethylation with clinical presentation features and disease outcome. We also investigated the possible relationship between CALC1 methylation status and expression of the cell cycle inhibitor gene p57KIP2. We observed CALC1 hypermethylation in bone marrow cells from 43% (45 out of 105) of ALL patients. Clinical, molecular and laboratory features did not differ significantly between hypermethylated and hypomethylated patients, only T-cell lineage was associated with hypermethylation (14% vs. 47%, P = 0025). Complete remission rate was similar in both groups although hypermethylated patients had a higher relapse rate (68% vs. 19%, P < 0.00001) and mortality rate (55% vs. 36%, P = 0.06) than hypomethylated patients. Estimated disease-free survival (DFS) at 6 years was 66.1% for hypomethylated patients and 5.3% for hypermethylated patients (P < 0,00001). Multivariate analysis from potential prognostic factors demonstrated that CALC1 methylation status was an independent prognostic factor in predicting DFS (P = 0.0001). Separate analysis of adult and childhood ALL patients showed similar results to the whole series. In addition, hypermethylated patients showed downregulation of p57KIP2 expression. Our results suggest that CALC1 gene hypermethylation is associated with an enhanced risk of relapse independently of known poor-prognostic factors and we describe, for the first time, a possible implication of the p57KIP2 gene in the genesis and prognosis of ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Roman
- Department of Haematology, Reina Sofia Hospital, Cordoba, Spain
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Taylor JM, Kay PH, Spagnolo DV. The diagnostic significance of Myf-3 hypermethylation in malignant lymphoproliferative disorders. Leukemia 2001; 15:583-9. [PMID: 11368360 DOI: 10.1038/sj.leu.2402080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Deregulated methylation of cytosine in DNA is a frequent finding in malignancy that is reflected by general genomic hypomethylation and regional hypermethylation that includes the myogenic gene Myf-3. In this study of 198 DNA samples from 186 patients with a wide range of lymphoproliferative disorders (LPD), the methylation status of Myf-3 was assessed to evaluate its significance in the diagnosis of malignant LPD. DNA was digested with the restriction endonucleases HpaII and MspI, and using the Southern blot (SB) technique, the size and density of fragments that hybridized with a Myf-3 probe were used to assign the methylation status. None of the samples from 45 patients from a wide age range with benign LPDs had evidence of altered Myf-3 methylation and there was no age-related methylation change. By contrast, 115/123 (93%) of samples from patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) or lymphoid leukemia had increased Myf-3 methylation. There was no methylation alteration in 22/24 (92%) of samples from patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), nor in five of six samples from LPDs that had atypical histopathologic features which were not diagnostic of lymphoma, while the remaining sample of atypical LPD had hypermethylated Myf-3 fragments. There was an association between increasing Myf-3 methylation and higher histopathologic grade of malignancy within specific lymphoma categories. It is concluded that the detection of increased Myf-3 methylation is a sensitive and specific test of malignancy which may complement other molecular methods that are currently used for the assessment of clonality. It may be of particular diagnostic use in natural killer (NK) and null cell malignancies for which other indicators of clonality are lacking. Furthermore, methylation status may prove to be of potential prognostic value.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Taylor
- Tissue Pathology Division, The Western Australian Centre for Pathology and Medical Research, Nedlands, Australia
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