| Abstract: | We have found that DNA methylation is inversely correlated with alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) gene expression in a series of isogenic rat hepatoma cell lines. The 5' end of the gene is extensively demethylated in AFP-producing cells and is highly methylated in cell lines which do not produce AFP. Glucocorticoid affects markedly the synthesis of AFP in the hepatoma cells. However, methylation patterns of cell lines which were treated with dexamethasone were not different from those of control cells, indicating that glucocorticoid action on AFP gene expression does not alter DNA methylation in this region of the gene. |
