p16INK4A and p15INK4B gene deletions in primary leukemias

The 9p21 locus has been deleted at a high frequency in a wide variety of tumors. Recently, two genes, p16INK4A and p15INK4B (also called MTS1 and MTS2), have been localized in close proximity at the 9p21 locus, encoding cyclin-dependent kinases 4/6 inhibitors of relative molecular mass 16 kD and 15 kD, respectively and also found to be deleted at a high frequency in tumor cell lines. We analyzed p16INK4A and p15INK4B genes in 178 cases of primary leukemias including 81 cases of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), seven of hairy cell leukemia (HCL), seven of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), 43 of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), 27 of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and 13 of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) by Southern blot analyses. The ALL cases showed a relatively high frequency of homozygous deletions (22%, 6 of 27) at the p16INK4A gene locus. Interestingly, of the six cases with p16INK4A homozygous deletions, only three showed homozygous deletions at the p15INK4B gene. In 81 CLL patients, we detected one homozygous and five heterozygous deletions at both the p16INK4A and p15INK4B genes and two heterozygous deletions at the p16INK4A gene alone. Deletion of these two genes in AML cases is relatively low (9%). We did not detect deletions in any of the MDS, HCL, and CML cases examined. Sequence analyses of p16INK4A gene of six CLL cases with heterozygous deletion at this locus showed a 27-bp deletion at the splice acceptor site of intron 1 in one case and changes in the coding sequence in three other cases. The data presented in this report showed that (1) p16INK4A and p15INK4B genes are preferentially deleted homozygously in ALL and heterozygously in CLL cases with frequent mutation in the second allele, and (2) p16INK4A gene appears to be more frequently deleted than p15INK4B gene.     

Frequent deletion of p16INK4a/MTS1 and p15INK4b/MTS2 in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia

The tandemly linked p16INK4aMTS1 and p15INK4b/MTS2 genes on chromosome 9, band p21 encode proteins that function as specific inhibitors of the cyclin D-dependent kinases CDK4 and CDK6. This locus undergoes frequent bi-allelic deletion in human cancer cell lines, suggesting that the encoded proteins may function as tumor suppressors. However, more recent analysis of primary tumor samples has shown a much lower frequency of abnormalities affecting this region, raising doubt over the importance of these proteins in human malignancies. Hemizygous deletions and rearrangements of chromosome 9, band p21, are among the most frequent cytogenetic abnormalities detected in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), occurring in approximately 10% of cases. To determine if the p16INK4a/p15INK4b locus might be the target of these chromosomal lesions, we analyzed both genes in primary clinical samples from 43 pediatric ALL patients using interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization, Southern blot analysis, and the polymerase chain reaction. Deletions of p16INK4a/p15INK4b were identified in 18 of 20 cases with cytogenetically observed abnormalities of 9p and 5 of 23 with apparently normal chromosomes 9p, with the majority containing bi- allelic deletions (16 homozygous/7 hemizygous). Although most homozygous deletions involved both genes, Southern blot analysis showed an interstitial deletion in a single case that was confined to p16INK4a, suggesting that p15INK4b was not the critical target gene in this case. Sequence analysis of both p16INK4a and p15INK4b in all seven cases with hemizygous deletions failed to show mutations within the coding regions of the retained alleles. In this select group of patients, deletion of p16INK4a/p15INK4b was associated with T-cell phenotype, nonhyperdiploid karyotype (< 50 chromosomes), and poor event- free survival. These findings indicate that deletion of the p16INK4a/p15INK4b locus is one of the most common genetic abnormalities so far detected in pediatric ALL, and that loss of one or more of these cell cycle kinase inhibitors is important in leukemogenesis.     

The association of increased p14ARF/p16INK4a and p15INK4a gene expression with proliferative activity and the clinical course of multiple myeloma

p14/p16 and p15 gene expression was assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction in purified plasma cells (PC) from 52 patients with symptomatic multiple myeloma (MM) and seven with smoldering MM in order to clarify the impact of these genes on the proliferative activity of tumor cells and patients' outcome. p15 expression was lower in symptomatic MM than in smoldering SMM (-1.80 vs.1.51,p=0.026); similar results were observed for p14/p16. MM patients whose PC displayed high p15 and/or p14/p16 expression had a lower percentage of S-phase PC than the remaining cases (1.79%+/-1.35 vs. 3.04%+/-1.42, p=0.028), favorable prognostic factors and longer survival (100% vs. 49%at 2.5 years; p=0.007).     

Mutations and altered expression of p16INK4 in human cancer.

Cell cycle arrest at the G1 checkpoint allows completion of critical macromolecular events prior to S phase. Regulators of the G1 checkpoint include an inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase, p16INK4; two tumor-suppressor proteins, p53 and RB (the product of the retinoblastoma-susceptibility gene); and cyclin D1. Neither p16INK4 nor the RB protein was detected in 28 of 29 tumor cell lines from human lung, esophagus, liver, colon, and pancreas. The presence of p16INK4 protein is inversely correlated with detectable RB or cyclin D1 proteins and is not correlated with p53 mutations. Homozygous deletions of p16INK4 were detected in several cell lines, but intragenic mutations of this gene were unusual in either cell lines or primary tumors. Transfection of the p16INK4 cDNA expression vector into carcinoma cells inhibits their colony-forming efficiency and the p16INK4 expressing cells are selected against with continued passage in vitro. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that p16INK4 is a tumor-suppressor protein and that genetic and epigenetic abnormalities in genes controlling the G1 checkpoint can lead to both escape from senescence and cancer formation.     

肝癌细胞p15基因CpG岛甲基化研究

目的通过检测肝癌细胞株HepG2的抑癌基因p15基因启动子区CpG岛的甲基化状态,探讨其与肿瘤发生的可能相关性。方法应用甲基化特异性PCR(MSP)技术,对人肝癌细胞株HepG2的p15基因启动子区域CpG岛的甲基化状态进行检测,以人淋巴瘤细胞株Raji为阳性对照,以正常人外周血单核细胞(PBMC)和肝细胞为阴性对照。结果肝癌细胞HepG2中p15基因启动子区域CpG岛甲基化和非甲基化检测均呈阳性,正常人外周血单核细胞和肝细胞甲基化检测阴性。结论肝癌细胞株HepG2抑癌基因p15基因CpG岛存在高度甲基化,可能与肝癌的发生相关。     

p16(INK4a) and p15(INK4b) gene methylations in plasma cells from monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance.

p15(INK4b) and p16(INK4a) proteins are cell cycle regulators involved in the inhibition of G1 phase progression. High frequency of methylation of both genes has been reported in multiple myeloma (MM), but it remains to be determined how and when these alterations contribute to tumorigenesis. Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) represents an early disease stage in a fraction of MMs. Plasma cells from 33 patients with MGUS and 33 patients with MM were isolated and analyzed for p15(INK4b) and p16(INK4a) methylation by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. Selective methylation was found in 19% for p16(INK4a), 36% for p15(INK4b), and 6.5% for both genes in MGUS, and frequencies were similar in MM suggesting that methylation of these genes is an early event, not associated with transition from MGUS to MM. p15(INK4b) and p16(INK4a) gene methylation might contribute to immortalization of plasma cells rather than malignant transformation in the natural history of MM.     

p16INK4/p15INK4B gene inactivation is a frequent event in malignant T-cell lines

Abstract: The cell cycle regulators p16^INK4 and p15^INK4B have been mapped to the minimal region of overlap for chromosome 9p21 deletions, observed in a number of malignancies, suggesting that they could be tumor suppressor genes (TSGs). In the case of pl6^INK4 this has been further substantiated by the finding of small intragenic mutations. In this study we have investigated the p16^INK4 and p15^INK4B genes in 16 malignant T-cell lines by means of Southern blot, PCR and sequence analysis. p16^INK4 allelic deletions occurred in 15 of 16 cell lines; 12 of which were homozygous and 3 hemizygous. In 1 cell line (DND 41) the remaining p16^INK4 allele carried a microdeletion of 29 bp of exon 2, supporting the concept that p16^INK4 is a target TSG for deletions on 9p21. Most p16^INK4 deletions also included the p15^INK4B gene. However, 4 of the cell lines deleted for p16^INK4 showed no evidence of p15^INK4B loss, indicating that p15^INK4B is not the target in these cell lines.     

胃癌形成过程中p16IN4a、Runx3和O-6-甲基鸟嘌呤-DNA甲基转移酶基因甲基化及其表达研究

目的 研究胃癌形成过程中p16INK4a、Runx3和O-6-甲基鸟嘌呤-DNA甲基转移酶(MGMT)基因启动子区的高甲基化状态,同时检测MGMT的蛋白表达情况.探讨抑癌基因启动子区高甲基化与胃癌发生的关系.方法 选择经透明帽法进行首次黏膜病变切除者43例,其中异型增生27例,早期胃癌16例.选择胃镜活检证实为慢性萎缩性胃炎伴肠上皮化生者14例.另取20例正常胃黏膜活检组织作为对照.采用甲基化特异聚合酶链反应(MSP)检测每例组织中p16INK4a、Runx3和MGMT基因启动子区的甲基化状态,对所有甲基化p16INK4a产物进行测序,免疫组化检测MGMT蛋白表达情况.结果 肠上皮化生、异型增生和早期胃癌中p16INK4a基因甲基化率依次为14.3%(2/14)、22.2%(6/27)和37.5%(6/16);Runx3基因甲基化率依次为14.3%(2/14)、48.1%(13/27)和50.0%(8/16);MGMT基因甲基化率依次为7.1%(1/14)、48.1%(13/27)和50.0%(8/16).20名正常对照均未检出基因甲基化,与异型增生和早期胃癌相比差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).Runx3和MGMT两种基因在异型增生和早期胃癌中的甲基化率显著高于肠上皮化生组(P＜0.05).各组病变中三种基因甲基化联合分析发现,异型增生和早期胃癌中甲基化的基因种类高于肠上皮化生组.差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01).基因甲基化与息者年龄、性别、幽门螺杆菌感染以及病变部位无相关性,但p16INK4a和MGMT基因甲基化与血清癌胚抗原水平升高显著相关(P值分别为0.003和0.039).MGMT基因启动子区高甲基化与其蛋白失表达密切相关(χ2=12.821,P=0.001).结论 抑癌基因启动子区高甲基化是基因失活的主要机制,可能是胃癌发生的早期分子事件.p16INK4a、Runx3和MGMT基因启动子区高甲基化在胃癌形成过程中起着重要的作用.     

Deletions of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor genes p16INK4A and p15INK4B in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas

The tumor suppressor genes p16INK4A and p15INK4B map to the 9p21 chromosomal locus and are either homozygously deleted or mutated in a wide range of human cancer cell lines and tumors. Although chromosome 9 abnormalities have been described in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs), to date, the mutational status of these genes has not been determined for these malignancies. A total of five cell lines and 75 NHLs were examined for homozygous deletions or point mutations in the coding regions of both the p15 and p16 genes using Southern blot and/or polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformation polymorphism analyses. Homozygous deletions of either the p16 gene or both the p15 and p16 genes were observed in one diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cell line and two uncultured lymphomas consisting of one large B-cell and one mixed T-cell lymphoma. In contrast, point mutations were not detected in either the cell lines or lymphomas. These results indicate that the rate of alterations in the p15 and p16 genes is low for lymphomas, but loss of p16 and/or p15 may be involved in the development of some lymphomas.