RESUMO
Identification of epigenetically affected genes has become an important tool for understanding both normal and aberrant gene expression in cancer. Here we report a whole-genome analysis of DNA methylation profiles in fresh-frozen oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) tissues and normal mucosa samples using microarray technology with patient genomic DNA. We initially compared whole-genome patterns of DNA methylation among 24 OPSCC primary tumors and 24 matched normal mucosal samples. From a survey of 27,578 CpG dinucleotide loci spanning more than 14,000 genes, we identified 958 CpG loci in which measurements of DNA methylation were altered in the primary tumors relative to the normal mucosal samples. These alterations were validated in an independent set of 21 OPSCC patients. A survey of these loci by chromosomal location revealed an abnormally high number of differentially methylated loci on chromosome 19. Many of the loci on chromosome 19 are associated with genes belonging to the Krüppel-type zinc finger protein genes. Hypermethylation was accompanied by a significant decrease in expression of these genes in OPSCC primary tumors relative to adjacent mucosa. This study reports the epigenetic silencing of Krüppel-type zinc finger protein genes on chromosome 19q13 in oropharyngeal cancer. The aberrant methylation of these genes represents a new avenue of exploration for pathways affected in this disease.
Assuntos
Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/genética , Cromossomos Humanos Par 19/genética , Metilação de DNA/genética , Fatores de Transcrição Kruppel-Like/genética , Neoplasias Orofaríngeas/genética , Adulto , Idoso , Ilhas de CpG/genética , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Análise de Sequência com Séries de Oligonucleotídeos , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase Via Transcriptase ReversaRESUMO
The early localization of mRNA transcripts is critical in sorting cell fate determinants in the developing embryo. In the glossiphoniid leech, Helobdella robusta, maternal mRNAs, such as Hro-twist, localize to the zygotic teloplasm. Ten seven nucleotide repeat elements (AAUAAUA) called ARE2 and a predicted secondary structural motif, called teloplasm localization motif (TLM), are present in the 3'UTR of Hro-twist mRNA. We used site-directed mutagenesis, deletions, and microinjection of labeled, exogenous transcripts to determine if ARE2 elements, and the TLM, play a role in Hro-twist mRNA localization. Deleting the poly-A tail and the cytoplasmic polyadenylation element (CPE) had no effect on Hro-twist mRNA localization. Site-directed mutagenesis of nucleotides that altered ARE2 element sequences or the TLM suggest that the ARE2 elements and the TLM are important for Hro-twist mRNA localization to the teloplasm of pre-cleavage zygotes. Hro-Twist protein expression data suggest that the localization of Hro-twist transcripts in zygotes and stage two embryos is not involved in ensuring mesoderm specification, as Hro-Twist protein is expressed uniformly in most cells before gastrulation. Our data may support a shared molecular mechanism for leech transcripts that localize to the teloplasm.
Assuntos
Regiões 3' não Traduzidas , Regulação da Expressão Gênica no Desenvolvimento , Sanguessugas/genética , Transporte de RNA , RNA Mensageiro/metabolismo , Proteína 1 Relacionada a Twist/metabolismo , Zigoto/metabolismo , Animais , Padronização Corporal , Clonagem Molecular , Biologia Computacional , Embrião não Mamífero/citologia , Embrião não Mamífero/embriologia , Desenvolvimento Embrionário , Sanguessugas/embriologia , Mesoderma/citologia , Mesoderma/embriologia , Mutagênese Sítio-Dirigida , Motivos de Nucleotídeos , Mutação Puntual , Estrutura Secundária de Proteína , Dobramento de RNA , RNA Mensageiro/genética , Sequências Repetitivas de Ácido Nucleico , Proteína 1 Relacionada a Twist/genética , Zigoto/citologiaRESUMO
Human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is recognized as a distinct disease entity associated with improved survival. DNA hypermethylation profiles differ significantly by HPV status suggesting that a specific subset of methylated CpG loci could give mechanistic insight into HPV-driven OPSCC. We analyzed genome-wide DNA methylation of primary tumor samples and adjacent normal mucosa from 46 OPSCC patients undergoing treatment at Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY using the Illumina HumanMethylation27 beadchip. For each matched tissue set, we measured differentially methylated CpG loci using a change in methylation level (M value). From these analyses, we identified a 22 CpG loci panel for HPV+ OPSCC that included four CDKN2A loci downstream of the p16(INK4A) and p14(ARF) transcription start sites. This panel was significantly associated with overall HPV detection (P < 0.05; ROC area under the curve = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.91-1.0) similar to the subset of four CDKN2A-specific CpG loci (0.90, 95% CI: 0.82-0.99) with equivalence to the full 22 CpG panel. DNA hypermethylation correlated with a significant increase in alternative open reading frame (ARF) expression in HPV+ OPSCC primary tumors, but not to the other transcript variant encoded by the CDKN2A locus. Overall, this study provides evidence of epigenetic changes to the downstream region of the CDKN2A locus in HPV+ oropharyngeal cancer that are associated with changes in expression of the coded protein products.
Assuntos
Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/metabolismo , Inibidor p16 de Quinase Dependente de Ciclina/genética , Inibidor p16 de Quinase Dependente de Ciclina/metabolismo , Neoplasias Orofaríngeas/metabolismo , Infecções por Papillomavirus/metabolismo , Proteína Supressora de Tumor p14ARF/metabolismo , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/genética , Ilhas de CpG , Metilação de DNA , Epigênese Genética , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Neoplasias Orofaríngeas/genética , Papillomaviridae , Infecções por Papillomavirus/genética , RNA Mensageiro/metabolismo , Proteína Supressora de Tumor p14ARF/genéticaRESUMO
PURPOSE: We have used a genome-wide approach to identify novel differentially methylated CpG dinucleotides that are seen in different anatomic sites of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), as well as those that might be related to HPV status in the oropharynx. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We conducted genome-wide DNA methylation profiling of primary tumor samples and corresponding adjacent mucosa from 118 HNSCC patients undergoing treatment at Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, using the Illumina HumanMethylation27 beadchip. For each matched tissue set, we measured differentially methylated CpG loci using a change in methylation level (M-value). RESULTS: When datasets were individually analyzed by anatomic site of the primary tumor, we identified 293 differentially methylated CpG loci in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), 219 differentially methylated CpG loci in laryngeal SCC, and 460 differentially methylated in oropharyngeal SCC. A subset of these differentially methylated CpG loci was common across all anatomic sites of HNSCC. Stratification by HPV status revealed a significantly higher number of differentially methylated CpG loci in HPV+ patients. CONCLUSION: Novel epigenetic biomarkers derived from clinical HNSCC specimens can be used as molecular classifiers of this disease, revealing many new avenues of investigation for this disease.