FHIT基因在宫颈癌细胞中的表达及其甲基化调控

目的：分析FHIT基因在宫颈癌细胞中表达情况以及甲基化的调控情况。方法：对RJC-1、SiHa、CS1213以及C4-1细胞进行培养,提取这些细胞的DNA并经过亚硫酸氢盐修饰,进行PCR反应和产物的检测。分析FHIT基因在宫颈癌细胞中表达情况以及甲基化的调控情况。结果：RJC-1、CS1213细胞仅有甲基化引物扩增出了目的条带,为完全甲基化状态。其他细胞则是甲基特异性引物与非甲基特异性引物共同扩增出73bp的目的条带,其状态为甲基化杂合性。通过5-aza-CdR处理细胞后,通过实时定量PCR检测FHIT mRNA的表达,显示处理后各种细胞中的FHIT mRNA的表达升高。结论：FHIT基因的甲基化是其表达下调的重要机制之一,是临床研究宫颈癌细胞的重要方向之一。     

FUT4-siRNA增强5-aza-dC对鳞癌细胞增殖和迁移的抑制

岩藻糖基转移酶IV（fucosyltransferase IV,FUT4）是催化蛋白质岩藻糖基化的关键酶．已经证明,FUT4-siRNA能够抑制鳞癌细胞的增殖．5-氮杂-2-脱氧胞苷（5-aza-dC）是临床常用化疗药物,但5-aza-dC是否对鳞癌有治疗作用,以及与FUT4-siRNA联合使用能否加强对鳞癌细胞增殖和迁移的抑制尚不清楚．本研究以鳞癌细胞系A431和SCC12为对象,探讨5-aza-dC及其与FUT4-siRNA联合使用对细胞增殖和迁移的影响．MTT结合流式细胞周期分析显示,5-aza-dC处理A431和SCC12细胞4 d后,细胞增殖被明显抑制,抑制率分别为18%和20% (P<0.05);与对照组比较,加药处理组G1期细胞数量减少,S期细胞数量明显增加．Western印迹结果揭示,A431细胞FUT4表达水平较SCC12细胞高．经5-aza-dC处理后SCC12细胞FUT4表达有所增加,但仍低于A431细胞中的表达．FUT4-siRNA转染结合台盼蓝活细胞记数证明,FUT4-siRNA明显降低细胞FUT4表达,5-aza-dC处理同时转染FUT4-siRNA的A431和SCC12细胞增殖进一步被抑制,抑制率分别为54%和60% (P<0.05)．细胞划痕法显示,5-aza-dC与FUT4-siRNA联合使用,对细胞迁移能力的抑制作用比5-aza-dC单独使用增强．上述结果提示,5-aza-dC通过诱导细胞S期阻滞抑制鳞癌细胞增殖,FUT4-siRNA与5-aza+dC联合使用可加强对细胞增殖和迁移的抑制．     

NANOGP8基因在肺癌细胞系中甲基化水平与表达研究

目的:研究NANOGP8基因在肺癌细胞系A549中启动子区域甲基化水平及其与基因表达的相关性。方法:利用MethPrimer甲基化岛预测和甲基化引物设计软件,预测NANOGP8启动子区甲基化位点。分别从人成纤维细胞系和肺癌细胞系中提取基因组DNA,经过亚硫酸氢钠处理后,用针对甲基化位点设计的引物进行PCR扩增,获得相应区段DNA后,连接到pGEM-T载体,转化大肠杆菌鉴定阳性克隆后,测序并与GenBank数据库中NANOGP8基因组DNA序列比对,获得其甲基化水平数据。分别提取两个细胞系的总RNA,RT-PCR获得相应cDNA进行PCR扩增,扩增产物经琼脂糖凝胶电泳后,经酶切和测序验证,获取其表达水平数据。结果:成功预测NANOGP8的两个区域有甲基化位点,并检测到人成纤维细胞系和肺癌A549细胞系中NANOGP8启动子甲基化水平分别为59.7%和12.5%,表达检测结果显示在A549细胞系中检测到NANOGP8的基因片段,而在人成纤维细胞系中没有扩增到相应产物。结论:在正常成体细胞中NANOGP8基因由于启动子的高度甲基化而沉默,而在肺癌细胞系中NANOGP8基因启动子去甲基化激活其表达。NANOGP8基因的表达与其启动子区域去甲基化密切相关,同时NANOGP8在肺癌细胞分化过程中发挥重要作用。     

人FUT4基因近端启动子结构的初步分析

LeY是一种双岩藻糖化寡糖,在大多数上皮来源的肿瘤细胞（包括乳腺癌、卵巢癌等）中高表达.岩藻糖基转移酶Ⅳ（fucosyltransferase Ⅳ, FUT4）是合成LeY的关键酶. 前期工作发现,FUT4通过增加LeY糖的合成来促进细胞的增殖. 但有关FUT4的转录调控机制尚不清楚. 本文通过对人FUT4基因近端启动子进行生物信息学分析,并构建不同长度启动子序列荧光虫荧光素酶报告基因表达载体,分析其转录活性. 使用First EF程序分析并获得FUT4近端启动子序列,采用PCR 法扩增FUT4基因近端不同长度的启动子序列,定向克隆,获得不同长度的启动子重组质粒. 重组质粒经双酶切及测序鉴定正确. 荧光素酶活性分析不同长度的FUT4 基因启动子片段的转录活性.结果显示,pGL6-FUT4-1.2 kb在MCF-7和MDA- MB-231细胞中转录活性明显升高（P<0.05）.说明FUT4基因启动子区域定位于转 录起始位点上游的-800～-1 600 bp的区域内.     

DLC-1 基因在MCF-7 人乳腺癌细胞系中低表达的机制探究

目的:探究DLC-1基因在MCF-7人乳腺癌细胞系中低表达的机制。方法:应用甲基化特异性PCR(MSP)检测人乳腺癌细胞MCF-7的DLC-1基因甲基化状态,不同浓度的5-氮杂-2’-脱氧胞嘧啶(5-Aza-CdR)处理人乳腺癌细胞MCF-7,RT-PCR及Real-time PCR定量检测用药前后细胞中DLC-1基因mRNA表达水平变化。结果:DLC-1基因启动子区CpG岛呈甲基化状态,经过5-Aza-CdR处理后,DLC-1基因启动子区呈去甲基化状态,并且其mRNA恢复表达。结论:抑癌基因DLC-1 CpG岛甲基化是导致该基因低表达的原因之一,5-Aza-CdR能逆转DLC-1基因甲基化状态。     

DLC-1基因在MCF-7人乳腺癌细胞系中低表达的机制探究

目的：探究DLC-1基因在MCF-7人乳腺癌细胞系中低表达的机制。方法：应用甲基化特异性PCR（MSP）检测人乳腺癌细胞MCF-7的DLC-1基因甲基化状态,不同浓度的5-氮杂-2＇-脱氧胞嘧啶（5-Aza-CdR）处理人乳腺癌细胞MCF-7,RT-PCR及Real-time PCR定量检测用药前后细胞中DLC-1基因mRNA表达水平变化。结果：DLC-1基因启动子区CpG岛呈甲基化状态,经过5-Aza-CdR处理后,DLC-1基因启动子区呈去甲基化状态,并且其mRNA恢复表达。结论：抑癌基因DLC-1 CpG岛甲基化是导致该基因低表达的原因之一,5-Aza-CdR能逆转DLC-1基因甲基化状态。     

不同培养条件对鸡胚胎生殖细胞Oct4启动子DNA甲基化的影响

旨在在体外通过胚胎生殖细胞(EGC)和细胞外基质共同构建一个EGC的小生境(niche)模型,通过比较Oct4DNA甲基化的变化,研究niche中特有的表观遗传效应对胚胎生殖细胞自我更新的影响.构建EGC细胞标准培养方案(对照组)和改良培养方案(试验组),采用甲基化特异性PCR( MS-PCR)技术、RT-PCR技术,对比分析两种培养方案中Oct4启动子的甲基化状态,判断基因表达与其CpG岛甲基化的关系,分析DNA甲基化模式与EGC细胞自我更新的关系.结果显示,试验组可扩增出Oct4的非甲基化扩增产物,而对照组为其甲基化扩增产物,试验组Oct4表达水平明显高于对照组.试验组EGC生长状态明显好于对照组.试验表明,在改良培养条件下,Oct4基因启动子DNA甲基化程度较低,且与基因表达水平呈负相关,更有利于维持胚胎生殖细胞的自我更新状态.     

花生β-1,3-葡聚糖酶基因启动子的克隆及功能分析

植物β-1,3-葡聚糖酶属于一种重要的植物病程相关蛋白（PR蛋白）,容易受到激发子的诱导而积累。用1.5 mmol/L水杨酸 （Salicylic Acid,,SA）对花生品种花育20号幼苗进行诱导处理,提取RNA利用 Real-time PCR技术检测β-1,3-葡聚糖酶基因的表达量。结果表明经诱导后24h,β-1,3-葡聚糖酶基因的表达量达到最高,是未经SA诱导的1.8倍。根据花生β-1,3-葡聚糖酶基因 cDNA序列（GenBank JQ801335）设计三个嵌套的5＇端特异引物,以花育20号基因组DNA为模板,利用TAIL-PCR方法扩增得到973bp的花生β-1,3-葡聚糖酶基因上游启动子片段, ,命名为Ah-Glu-Pro,,在NCBI网站注册序列号为GenBank KC290400。PLACE 和 PlantCARE 启动子在线预测分析表明,Ah-Glu-Pro序列中含有TATA-box和CAAT-box等核心元件,还含有病原菌及SA响应的顺式调控元件。根据Ah-Glu-Pro序列设计上下游引物,采用普通PCR法从花育20号基因组中扩增得到931bp的启动子序列,命名为Ah-Glu-P。将Ah-Glu-P取代pCAMBIA1301质粒中的CaMV35S启动子,构建植物表达载体 pCAMBIA1301-Ah-Glu-P。通过农杆菌介导法将 pCAMBIA1301-Ah-Glu-P 转化洋葱表皮细胞,经5.0 mmol/L SA诱导处理48h后进行GUS染色。结果表明：经SA诱导后的洋葱表皮细胞GUS染色显示为蓝色,未经诱导的洋葱表皮细胞GUS染色未显示蓝色,说明Ah-Glu-P是一个诱导型的启动子,可能含有对SA响应的顺式调控元件。     

HDAC4基因甲基化对hMSCs向汗腺样细胞诱导转分化的影响

目的：探讨在诱导人骨髓间充质干细胞（hMSCs）转分化为汗腺样细胞过程中,组蛋白去乙酰化酶4（HDAC4）甲基化的改变及其对诱导转分化过程的影响。方法：选取人骨髓间充质干细胞系体外培养、扩增后,取第三代hMSCs与热休克处理的汗腺细胞进行Transwell+诱导因子的共培养。收集诱导后实验组的汗腺样细胞和同期对照组的hMSCs,采用甲基化特异性PCR（MSP）和飞行质谱（Mass Array）法检测HDAC4基因启动子区CpG岛甲基化状态的变化,随后采用甲基化抑制剂5-氮杂-2'-脱氧胞苷（5-aza-CdR,10 μmol/L）处理实验组hMSCs,对照组为同期培养的hMSCs,RT-PCR测定两组细胞HDAC4基因和癌胚抗原（CEA）基因的mRNA表达量。结果：诱导前hMSCs中HDAC4基因整体甲基化水平较高,探针cg2463009处CpG位点甲基化程度为0.901,诱导转分化后汗腺样细胞中HDAC4基因整体甲基化水平下降37%,甲基化程度为0.531;探针cg14823429处CpG位点甲基化程度由诱导前的0.687下降到0.386。5-aza-CdR处理48 h后,实验组HDAC4基因mRNA表达水平上调,与诱导转分化相关的CEA mRNA同期表达量也增强,与对照组相比差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论：HDAC4基因的甲基化参与了hMSCs转分化为汗腺样细胞过程的调控。     

SOX7基因启动子甲基化水平对乳腺癌MDA-MB-231细胞株体外迁移和侵袭的影响

目的:探讨乳腺癌MDA-MB-231细胞中,Y性别决定区基因7(SOX7)基因启动子甲基化水平对细胞的体外迁移和侵袭的影响。方法:脂质体转染pcDNA3.0-DNA甲基转移酶3a(DNMT3a)质粒至MDA-MB-231细胞中,并于24h、48h及72h后,采用蛋白质免疫印迹实验(WB)检测细胞内DNMT3a蛋白表达水平;甲基化特异性定量PCR(Q-MSP)检测DNMT3a处理组、5-aza-C处理组及对照(Control)组MDA-MB-231细胞中的SOX7基因启动子DNA甲基化水平;实时荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)及WB实验检测各组MDA-MB-231细胞中的SOX7 m RNA和蛋白表达水平;细胞划痕实验及细胞侵袭实验检测各组MDA-MB-231细胞的迁移和侵袭能力。结果:pcDNA3.0-DNMT3a质粒转染MDA-MB-231细胞24h时,细胞内的DNMT3a蛋白表达水平最高。DNMT3a能够显著提高SOX7基因启动子DNA甲基化水平,而5-aza-C则抑制了SOX7基因启动子DNA甲基化水平(P0.05)。与Control组相比,DNMT3a处理组的MDA-MB-231细胞中,SOX7的m RNA及蛋白表达水平均明显下降,而5-aza-C处理组SOX7的m RNA及蛋白表达水平均明显增加(P0.05)。与Control组相比,DNMT3a处理组的MDA-MB-231细胞的迁移和侵袭能力均显著增强(P0.05),而5-aza-C处理组的MDA-MB-231细胞的迁移和侵袭能力变化不大(P0.05)。结论:在恶性肿瘤中,SOX7低表达表受其基因启动子高甲基化调节,且乳腺癌MDA-MB-231细胞中低表达的SOX7能够影响细胞的外迁移和侵袭能力。     

Epigenetic regulation of bone morphogenetic protein-6 gene expression in breast cancer cells

Bone morphogenetic protein-6 (BMP-6) is closely correlated with tumor differentiation and skeletal metastasis. Our previous research found that BMP-6 gene expression can be activated dose-dependently by estrogen in estrogen receptor positive (ER⁺) breast cancer cell line MCF-7, but not in ER negative (ER⁻) cell line MDA-MB-231. This experiment is designed to investigate the epigenetic regulatory mechanism of the BMP-6 gene expression in breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231, MCF-7 and T47D with regard to the methylation status in the 5′ flanking region of the human BMP-6 gene. The endogenous level of BMP-6 mRNA in ER⁻ cell line MDA-MB-231 was relatively lower than that in ER⁺ MCF-7 and T47D cell lines. After the treatment with 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC, especially in the concentration of 10 μM), the BMP-6 mRNA expression in MDA-MB-231 was obviously up-regulated. However, 5-aza-dC treatment failed to regulate the expression of BMP-6 in MCF-7 and T47D cells. Using enzyme restriction PCR (MSRE-PCR), as well as bisulfite sequencing (BSG), methylation of human BMP-6 gene promoter was detected in MDA-MB-231; while in MCF-7 and T47D, BMP-6 gene promoter remained demethylated status. In 33 breast tumor specimens, promoter methylation of BMP-6 was detected by methylation-specific PCR, hypermethylation of BMP-6 was observed in ER negative cases (16 of 16 cases (100%)), while obviously lower methylation frequency were observed in ER positive cases (3 of 17 cases (18%)), indicating that BMP-6 promoter methylation status is correlated with ER status in breast cancer.     

Differential epigenetic regulation of BDNF and NT-3 genes by trichostatin A and 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine in Neuro-2a cells

To understand epigenetic regulation of neurotrophins in Neuro-2a mouse neuroblastoma cells, we investigated the alteration of CpG methylation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) promoter I and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) promoter IB and that of histone modification in Neuro-2a cells. Bisulfite genomic sequencing showed that the CpG sites of BDNF promoter I were methylated in non-treated Neuro-2a cells and demethylated following 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC) treatment. In contrast, methylation status of the NT-3 promoter IB did not change by 5-aza-dC treatment in Neuro-2a cells. Furthermore, we demonstrated that BDNF exon I-IX mRNA was induced by trichostatin A (TSA) treatment. However, NT-3 exon IB-II mRNA was not induced by TSA treatment. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed that the levels of acetylated histones H3 and H4 on BDNF promoter I were increased by TSA. These results demonstrate that DNA methylation and/or histone modification regulate BDNF gene expression, but do not regulate NT-3 gene expression in Neuro-2a cells.     

Analyses of the genomic methylation status of the human cyclin A1 promoter by a novel real-time PCR-based methodology

The role of CpG methylation in the regulation of tissue-specific gene expression is highly controversial. Cyclin A1 is a tissue-specifically expressed gene that is strongly methylated in non-expressing tumor cell lines. We have established a novel real-time PCR method to quantitate genomic CpG methylation of the cyclin A1 promoter. Genomic DNA samples from different human organs were treated with bisulfite and amplified with methylation-specific primers and with primers amplifying methylated as well as non-methylated DNA. PCR product quantitation was obtained by using a fluorogenic probe labeled with FAM and TAMRA. These analyses demonstrated that the human cyclin A1 promoter was methylated in kidney, colon, spleen, testis, and small intestine, but not in brain, liver, pancreas, or heart. Expression of cyclin A1 was predominantly found in testis. Low level expression of cyclin A1 was present in spleen, prostate, leukocytes, colon, and thymus. Taken together, our data provide evidence that CpG methylation patterns of the human cyclin A1 promoter in human organs do not generally correlate with cyclin A1 gene expression in vivo.     

Methylation of the DFNA5 increases risk of lymph node metastasis in human breast cancer

The pathogenesis of breast cancer involves multiple genetic and epigenetic events. In this study, we report an epigenetic alteration of DFNA5 in human breast cancer. DFNA5 gene was silenced in breast cancer cell lines that were methylated in the DFNA5 promoter, and restored by treatment with the demethylating agent, 5-aza-dC, and gene knock-down of DFNA5 increased cellular invasiveness in vitro. The mRNA expression of DFNA5 in breast cancer tissues was down-regulated as compared to normal tissues. Moreover, the DFNA5 promoter was found to be methylated in primary tumor tissues with high frequency (53%, 18/34). Quantitative methylation-specific PCR of DFNA5 clearly discriminated primary breast cancer tissues from normal breast tissues (15.3%, 2/13). Moreover, methylation status of DFNA5 was correlated with lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients. Our data implicate DFNA5 promoter methylation as a novel molecular biomarker in human breast cancer.