乳腺癌发生模型MCF10各细胞系中WT1基因启动子区甲基化及mRNA表达研究

目的通过观察乳腺癌发生模型MCF10中WT1基因启动子区甲基化状态和mRNA表达水平,探讨该基因在乳腺癌发生中的作用。方法应用甲基化特异性PCR及双亚硫酸钠基因测序技术检测MCF10模型的乳腺增生细胞系MCF10A、癌前细胞系MCF10AT、导管内癌细胞系MCF10DCIS．com、浸润癌细胞系（MCF10CAla、MCF10CA1d、MCF10CA1h）、经典乳腺癌细胞系MCF7及正常乳腺组织中WT1基因启动子区甲基化状态,然后用逆转录．聚合酶链反应（RT—PCR）和即时定量PCR技术检测上述样品的mRNA表达水平。结果在MCF10模型的增生细胞系MCF10A、癌前细胞系MCF10AT、导管内癌细胞系MCF10DCIS．com、浸润癌细胞系（MCF10CAla、MCF10CA1d、MCF10CA1h）、经典乳腺癌细胞系MCF7中,WT1基因启动子均处于高度甲基化状态。与正常乳腺组织相比,WT1基因mRNA在MCFl0模型的增生细胞系、癌前细胞系、导管内癌细胞系、浸润癌细胞系和经典乳腺癌细胞系MCF7中的表达均有不同程度的增加（MCF10A、MCF10AT、MCF10CAla、MCF10CA1d、MCF10CA1h、MCF10DCIS、MCF7的WT1基因mRNA表达量分别是正常乳腺组织3．23、1．94、4．20、1．53、4．20、4．35、28．69倍）。结论乳腺癌发生过程中WnmRNA的表达不被启动子甲基化所抑制;可WT1mRNA过表达出现于乳腺癌发生的早期阶段,提示该基因在乳腺癌发生中起作用。     

乳腺癌发生模型MCF10各细胞系中APC基因启动子区甲基化及mRNA表达检测

目的探讨乳腺癌发生模型MCF10中抑癌基因APC启动子区甲基化状态及其对mRNA表达的影响。方法应用甲基化特异性聚合酶链反应（MSP）及双亚硫酸钠基因测序技术检测MCF10模型的乳腺增生细胞系MCF10A、癌前细胞系MCF10AT、导管内癌细胞系MCF10DCIS.com、浸润癌细胞系MCF10CA1a、MCF10CA1d、MCF10CA1h及经典乳腺癌细胞系MCF-7和正常乳腺组织中APC基因启动子1A甲基化状态,然后用逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）和实时PCR技术检测上述样品的mRNA表达水平。结果在MCF10模型的增生细胞系、癌前细胞系、导管内癌细胞系、浸润癌细胞系中,APC基因启动子1A处于低甲基化状态;与正常乳腺组织相比,各细胞系APC基因mRNA表达无明显减少,MCF10AT、MCF10CA1d、MCF10CA1h、MCF10DCIS．com的mRNA表达分别减少0．27、0．96、1．78、2．70、2．03倍,MCF10A和MCF-7分别增加0．02和0．33倍）。结论MCF10模型中乳腺癌的发生发展过程与APC基因启动子区异常甲基化无关。     

乳腺癌发生模型MCF10 抑癌基因NOEY2启动子区甲基化及mRNA表达

DNA甲基化是常见的表观遗传学变化。越来越多的证据表明,抑癌基因启动子区CpG岛甲基化可使其转录沉默,从而解除其抑癌作用,导致肿瘤的发生和发展。NOEY2是近年来发现的抑癌基因,表达于正常乳腺导管上皮细胞和卵巢生发上皮细胞,但在乳腺癌和卵巢癌细胞中表达显著减少或不表达。在本实验中检测乳腺癌发生模型MCF10中不同阶段的细胞系NOEY2基因启动子区CpG岛Ⅰ甲基化状态,并与mRNA表达水平进行比较,以研究乳腺癌的发生机制和早期诊断。     

乳腺癌发生模型MCF10各阶段细胞系中TIMP3基因启动子区甲基化分析

目的探讨抑癌基因TIMP3失活与乳腺癌发生和进展的关系。方法用甲基化特异性PCR技术和亚硫酸盐测序技术检测乳腺癌发生模型MCF10的增生细胞系MCF10A、癌前细胞系MCF10AT、导管内癌细胞系MCF10DCIS.com、浸润癌细胞系MCF10CA1a和转移癌细胞系MCF10CA1d、MCF10CA1h中TIMP3启动子区甲基化状态。结果甲基化特异性PCR分析显示,在上述各细胞系中,TIMP3启动子区均呈高度甲基化状态。亚硫酸盐测序显示,在上述各细胞系中,测序区内的68个CG位点几乎全部发生了甲基化,且甲基化累及了绝大部分等位基因。结论TIMP3基因启动子区甲基化在乳腺癌的发生和进展中起重要作用,可能成为早期诊断乳腺癌和判断乳腺癌预后的分子生物学标记。     

散发性乳腺癌及乳腺不典型导管增生组织BRCA1基因启动子区甲基化分析

目的 了解散发性乳腺癌及癌旁增生组织、乳腺不典型导管增生组织BRCA1基因启动子区甲基化状态,探讨其与乳腺癌发生的关系.方法 采用甲基化特异性PCR(MSP)结合巢式PCR技术,研究23例散发性乳腺癌及其癌旁增生组织、6例乳腺不典型导管增生组织及5例健康成人女性外周血淋巴细胞中BRCA1基因启动子区甲基化状态.结果 5例健康成人女性外周血淋巴细胞均表现BRCA1基因启动子区甲基化阴性;23例原发性乳腺癌组织中,BRCA1基因启动子区CpG岛甲基化率为65.22%(15/23);癌旁增生组织检出CpG岛甲基化者11例,甲基化率为47.83%(11/23),且均为癌组织阳性患者;6例乳腺不典型导管增生组织中,BRCA1基因启动子区CpG岛甲基化阳性者2例,甲基化率为33.33%(2/6);统计学检验结果表明,乳腺癌、癌旁增生组织之间,BRCA1基因启动子区甲基化阳性率无显著差异.结论 BRCA1基因启动子区CpG 岛甲基化是散发性乳腺癌发生过程中的早期事件,可能在乳腺癌发生中和乳腺增生病癌变过程中起重要生物学作用.     

乳腺癌细胞中PELP1基因表达与启动子区CpG岛甲基化相关性

目的建立针对PELP1基因启动子区CpG岛的甲基化特异性PCR(Methylation specific PCR,MSP)检测方法,分析乳腺癌细胞中PELP1基因表达与启动区CpG岛甲基化的相关性。方法设计针对PELP1基因启动子区的MSP引物组,以甲基化和非甲基化DNA为模板验证MSP引物的特异性,建立针对PELP1基因启动子区的MSP检测方法。以DNA甲基转移酶抑制剂5'-氮杂-脱氧胞苷磷酸(5'-Aza-d C)分别处理MCF-7乳腺癌细胞、MCF-10正常乳腺导管上皮细胞,采用MSP检测PELP1基因启动子区甲基化状态变化,采用Western blot检测蛋白表达。结果针对PELP1基因启动子区设计的MSP引物组特异性良好,甲基化特异性引物仅在甲基化DNA模板获得阳性扩增条带,非甲基化引物仅在非甲基化DNA模板获得阳性条带。MCF-7乳腺癌细胞中PELP1基因启动子区呈非甲基化状态,MCF-10正常乳腺导管上皮细胞中PELP1基因启动子区呈甲基化状态,MCF-10细胞中PELP1蛋白表达水平为MCF-7细胞的1/16(P0.05)。采用5'-Aza-dC去除MCF-10细胞PELP1基因启动子区甲基化后,PELP1蛋白表达水平上升了9.7倍(P0.05)。结论所建立的PELP1基因启动子区MSP检测方法特异性良好,去甲基化可能是导致乳腺癌细胞中PELP1基因过表达的重要机制。     

乳腺癌中印记基因SLC22A18/TSSC5/BWR1A启动子区甲基化及mRNA表达的研究

目的： 研究印记基因SLC22A18启动子区甲基化对乳腺侵润性导管癌组织中的SLC22A18 mRNA表达的影响，探讨其与临床病理特征之间的关系。方法：实时荧光定量逆转录聚合酶链反应（real-time quantitative RT-PCR）方法检测40例乳腺侵润性导管癌及其癌旁组织中SLC22A18 mRNA的表达，甲基化特异性聚合酶链反应(MSP)检测SLC22A18基因启动子区的甲基化状态。检测DNA甲基转移酶抑制剂5-氮杂-2′-脱氧胞苷（5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine，5-aza-dc）和组蛋白去乙酰化酶抑制剂曲古霉素A（TSA）作用于乳腺癌细胞株MDA-MB-231后，对SLC22A18基因启动子区DNA甲基化和mRNA表达的影响。结果：SLC22A18在40例乳腺侵润性导管癌中mRNA表达量低于癌旁组织（0.12±0.10 vs 0.69±1.05，P＜0.01）；40例乳腺侵润性导管癌及对应癌旁组织中，SLC22A18启动子区的甲基化发生率分别为75％和37.5%，差异有统计学意义（P＜0.01）；在40例乳腺侵润性导管癌组织中，甲基化组SLC22A18 mRNA表达量低于非甲基化组（0.11±0.08 vs 0.24±0.18，P＜0.01）。5-aza-dc和5-aza-dc/TSA能不同程度逆转乳腺癌细胞株MDA-MB-231中SLC22A18基因的甲基化状态，并上调SLC22A18基因表达。结论：SLC22A18基因甲基化与乳腺癌发生有一定的关联，SLC22A18基因表达下调与其启动子区CpG岛异常甲基化相关。     

雌激素受体α阴性乳腺癌雌激素受体α基因启动子区CpG岛甲基化和肼苯哒嗪去甲基化作用

目的 检测雌激素受体(ER)α阴性乳腺癌细胞株MDA-MB-231和MDA-MB-435细胞及ERα阴性乳腺癌组织中ERα基因启动子区CpG岛甲基化状态;探索肼苯哒嗪能否作为去甲基化药物恢复ERα基因表达。方法应用特异性聚合酶链反应(MSP)检测乳腺癌细胞株MDA-MB-231和MDA-MB-435细胞和20例ERα阴性乳腺癌组织ERα基因3个启动子区A、B、CpG岛甲基化情况,肼苯哒嗪处理上述两种乳腺癌细胞,逆转录(RT)-PCR检测不同启动子调控下ERα基因异型体(isoform)ERα-A、ERα-B、ERα-C mRNA和ERα基因公共编码区mRNA表达。结果MDA-MB-231和MDA-MB-435细胞启动子区ERα-A、ERα-B均存在CpG岛甲基化,ERα-C无甲基化,20例ERα阴性乳腺癌组织中,13例(65％)ERα-A、10例(50％)ERα-B CpG岛甲基化阳性。其中9例ERα-A、ERα-BCpG岛甲基化均阳性(45％),仅1例(5％)ERα-C存在CpG岛甲基化。肼苯哒嗪处理上述两种细胞后,检测到ERα-A、ERα-B mRNA和公共编码区mRNA表达。结论乳腺癌组织和细胞ERα基因表达沉默可能与ERα基因启动子区A、B甲基化有关,且肿瘤分期愈晚,甲基化程度愈高。肼苯哒嗪能作为去甲基化药物诱导ERα基因表达。     

肠道肿瘤组织中C-erbB2基因启动子区CpG岛甲基化状态的分析

目的：探讨肠道肿瘤中致癌基因C-erbB2启动子区CpG岛的甲基化状态。方法收集经病理确诊的40例肠癌患者甲醛固定的肠道肿瘤组织及相应癌旁组织各40份;采用甲基化特异聚合酶链反应(MSP)检测C-erbB2基因启动子区CpG岛甲基化状态。结果肠道肿瘤组织中C-erbB2基因启动子区CpG岛甲基化率(52.5%)低于癌旁组织中存在的甲基化率(75.0%),两者之间差异有统计学意义(<0.05);肿瘤不同分期和有无淋巴结转移组间C-erbB2基因启动子区CpG岛甲基化率差异无统计学意义。结论所检标本显示肠道肿瘤组织与癌旁组织间C-erbB2基因启动子区CpG岛甲基化率差异有统计学意义,提示C-erbB2低甲基化可能是C-erbB2蛋白高表达和肠癌发生的原因之一。     

肝癌细胞中HLA Ⅰ类重链基因表达与启动子区域甲基化的相关性

目的： 研究肝癌细胞株中DNA甲基化与HLA Ⅰ类分子异常表达的相关性.方法： 应用MSP技术对相关细胞系的HLA I类分子重链A、B、C位点启动子区域CpG岛的甲基化状态进行分析, Real-time PCR检测HLA Ⅰ类分子重链mRNA水平的表达情况, Western blot检测RNA干扰后HLA Ⅰ类分子重链表达情况.结果： 在8株肝癌细胞系中HLA I类分子重链A、C位点启动子区域CpG岛存在甲基化; 将启动子区域的DNA甲基化与相关基因表达数据相比较显示二者没有关联性; 在RNA干扰DNA甲基化转移酶3a或3b的肝癌细胞系SMMC7721中, 比较基因干扰前后HLA Ⅰ类分子重链蛋白表达无显著变化.结论： 在研究的肝癌细胞系中DNA甲基化没有参与调控肝癌中HLA Ⅰ类分子的异常表达.     

Multiple forms of BRMS1 are differentially expressed in the MCF10 isogenic breast cancer progression model

Clinical studies evaluating the mRNA expression level of the BRMS1 metastasis suppressor in the progression of breast cancer have not been consistent. The purpose of this study was to characterize endogenous BRMS1 mRNA and protein in a model of the progression of breast cancer. BRMS1 protein expression was evaluated in the genetically related MCF10 cell lines representing ‘normal’ breast epithelial cells (MCF10A), pre-malignant breast disease (MCF10AT), comedo ductal carcinoma in situ (MCF10DCIS.com), and metastatic carcinoma (MCF10CAa.1 and MCF10CAd.1α) with two antibodies that recognize distinct epitopes in the BRMS1 protein. Nuclear expression of the characteristic ~35 kDa BRMS1 protein was detected in all cell lines. Because BRMS1 was expressed in the metastatic MCF10 variants, the BRMS1 exons were sequenced to scan for possible genetic mutations. BRMS1 was wild-type with the exception of a synonymous T/C transition in exon 7. However, alternatively spliced variants were detected by RT-PCR. Two variants, BRMS1.v2 and BRMS1.v4 were only detected in the MCF10A and AT cell lines, while BRMS1 and BRMS1.v3 were detected in all lines. These results demonstrate that expression of the characteristic ~35 kDa BRMS1 protein is not sufficient to prevent metastasis. The differential expression of alternative splice variants suggests caution should be taken when evaluating BRMS1 mRNA in clinical samples.     

DNA methylation-dependent silencing of CST6 in human breast cancer cell lines

Cystatin M (CST6) is a candidate breast cancer tumor suppressor that is expressed in normal and premalignant breast epithelium, but not in metastatic breast cancer cell lines. CST6 is subject to epigenetic silencing in MCF-7 breast cancer cells related to methylation of the CpG island that encompasses the CST6 proximal promoter region and exon 1. In the current study, CST6 CpG island methylation and expression status was examined in a panel of breast cancer cell lines. Seven of 12 (58%) cell lines lack detectable expression of CST6 and treatment of these cells with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine resulted in a significant increase in CST6 expression, suggesting that the loss of expression may be related to methylation-dependent epigenetic silencing. Bisulfite sequencing of CST6 in a subset of breast cancer cell lines revealed CpG island hypermethylation in CST6-negative cells, and an absence of CpG island methylation in cells that express CST6. The extent of regional methylation was strongly associated with the lack of expression of CST6 among these cell lines. In particular, hypermethylation of the proximal promoter was significantly associated with CST6 gene silencing, and methylation of a number of individual CpGs was found to be statistically correlated with extinction of gene expression. These results establish a strong link between CST6 promoter hypermethylation and loss of CST6 expression in breast cancer cell lines, and suggest that methylation-dependent epigenetic silencing of CST6 may represent an important mechanism for loss of CST6 during breast carcinogenesis in vivo.     

Identification of Hypermethylation in Hepatocyte Cell Adhesion Molecule Gene Promoter Region in Bladder Carcinoma

Background: Epigenetic regulation such as aberrant hypermethylation of CpG islands in promoter plays a key role in tumorigenesis. 5-Aza-2''-deoxycytidine (5-aza-CdR) which is a potent inhibitor of DNA methylation can reverse the abnormal hypermethylation of the silenced tumor suppressor genes (TSGs). It has been reported that hepatocyte cell adhesion molecule (hepaCAM) acts as a tumor suppressor gene and expression of its mRNA and protein were down-regulated in bladder cancer. Over-expression of hepaCAM can inhibit cancer growth and arrest renal cancer cells at G0/G1 phase. In this study, we investigated the methylation status of hepaCAM gene, as well as the influence of 5-aza-CdR on expression of hepaCAM gene in bladder cancer cells. Methods: CpG islands in hepaCAM promoter and methprimers were predicted and designed using bioinformatics program. Methylation status of hepaCAM promoter was evaluated in bladder cancer tissues and two cell lines (T24 and BIU-87) by Methylation-specific PCR; Western blot and Immunofluorescence were used to detect expression of hepaCAM protein after 5-aza-CdR treatment; Flow cytometry assay was performed to determine effectiveness of 5-aza-CdR on cell cycle profile. Results: CpG island in promoter of hepaCAM gene was hyper-methylated both in bladder carcinoma tissues and cell lines (T24 and BIU-87). Otherwise, aberrant methylation of its promoter was associated with its decreased expression. Hypermethylation of hepaCAM gene was reversed and expression of its mRNA and protein were re-activated in two cell lines by DNA methyltransferases inhibitor 5-aza-CdR. Flow cytometry assay demonstrated that 5-aza-CdR can inhibit growth of cancer cells by arresting cancer cells at G0/G1 phase. Conclusion: Abnormal hypermethylation in CpG island of hepaCAM promoter is involved in absence of hepaCAM gene expression when bladder cancer occurs. Re-activation of hepaCAM gene by 5-aza-CdR can inhibit growth of cancer cells and arrest cells at G0/G1 phase.     

Promoter CpG island hypermethylation during breast cancer progression

This study was designed to evaluate the changes in promoter CpG islands hypermethylation during breast cancer progression from pre-invasive lesions [flat epithelial atypia (FEA), atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH), and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)] to invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). We performed MethyLight analysis for the methylation status of 57 promoter CpG island loci in 20 IDCs and their paired normal breast tissues. After selecting 15 CpG island loci showing breast cancer-specific DNA methylation, another set of normal breast tissue (n = 10), ADH/FEA (n = 30), DCIS (n = 35), and IDC (n = 30) of the breast were analyzed for these loci. We found six new methylation markers of breast cancer, namely DLEC1, GRIN2B, HOXA1, MT1G, SFRP4, and TMEFF2, in addition to APC, GSTP1, HOXA10, IGF2, RARB, RASSF1A, RUNX3, SCGB3A1 (HIN-1), and SFRP1. The number of methylated genes increased stepwise from normal breast to ADH/FEA and DCIS, while IDC did not differ from DCIS. Methylation levels and frequencies of APC, DLEC1, HOXA1, and RASSF1A promoter CpG islands were significantly higher in ADH/FEA than in normal breast tissue. GRIN2B, GSTP1, HOXA1, RARB, RUNX3, SFRP1, and TMEFF2 showed higher methylation levels and frequencies in DCIS than in ADH/FEA. DICS and IDC did not differ in the methylation levels or frequencies for most CpG island loci except SFRP1 and HOXA10. Our findings showed that promoter CpG island methylation changed significantly in pre-invasive lesions, and was similar in IDC and DCIS, suggesting that CpG island methylation of tumor-related genes is an early event in breast cancer progression.     

Distinct patterns of promoter CpG island methylation of breast cancer subtypes are associated with stem cell phenotypes

Although DNA methylation profiles in breast cancer have been connected to breast cancer molecular subtype, there have been no studies of the association of DNA methylation with stem cell phenotype. This study was designed to evaluate the promoter CpG island methylation of 15 genes in relation to breast cancer subtype, and to investigate whether the patterns of CpG island methylation in each subtype are associated with their cancer stem cell phenotype represented by CD44+/CD24- and ALDH1 expression. We performed MethyLight analysis of the methylation status of 15 promoter CpG island loci involved in breast cancer progression (APC, DLEC1, GRIN2B, GSTP1, HOXA1, HOXA10, IGF2, MT1G, RARB, RASSF1A, RUNX3, SCGB3A1, SFRP1, SFRP4, and TMEFF2) and determined cancer stem cell phenotype by CD44/CD24 and ALDH1 immunohistochemistry in 36 luminal A, 33 luminal B, 30 luminal-HER2, 40 HER2 enriched, and 40 basal-like subtypes of breast cancer. The number of CpG island loci methylated differed significantly between subtypes, and was highest in the luminal-HER2 subtype and lowest in the basal-like subtype. Methylation frequencies and levels in 12 of the 15 genes differed significantly between subtypes, and the basal-like subtype had significantly lower methylation frequencies and levels in nine of the genes than the other subtypes. CD44+/CD24- and ALDH1+ putative stem cell populations were most enriched in the basal-like subtype. Methylation of promoter CpG islands was significantly lower in CD44+/CD24-cell (+) tumors than in CD44+/CD24-cell (-) tumors, even within the basal-like subtype. ALDH1 (+) tumors were also less methylated than ALDH1 (-) tumors. Our findings showed that promoter CpG island methylation was different in relation to breast cancer subtype and stem cell phenotype of tumor, suggesting that breast cancers have distinct patterns of CpG island methylation according to molecular subtypes and these are associated with different stem cell phenotypes of the tumor.