• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제48권6호
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• pp.634-639
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• 2005

목 적 : 2세 미만의 소아에서는 임상적으로 확실한 증상이 있거나 알레르기 가족력이 있는 것을 제외하고는 실제적으로 아토피 유무를 판별하는 것은 성인에 비해 제한점이 많다. 본 연구에서는 영유아기에 알레르기 질환과 관련된 사이토카인이 유전자 배열에서 발현하는 지를 말초혈액의 Th2 림프구에서 interleukin-4 유전자의 DNA 탈메틸화를 통하여 알아보고자 하였다. 방 법 : 대상은 한양대학교 구리병원 소아알레르기클리닉을 내원한 3세 미만 소아에 대해 소아의 병력과 가족력을 조사하여 family allergy score와 개인력을 기준으로 알레르기질환에 대한 고위험군 7명, 저위험군 8명, 정상 대조군 7명이었다. 이들 모두에서 총 IgE치와 Der f II 특이 IgE를 측정하였고 이들의 말초혈액에서 T세포를 Der f II로 자극하여 배양한 후 DNA 추출을 하여 IL-4 유전자 두 번째 인트론의 CpG 섬에 대한 메틸화 분석을 실시하였다. 결 과 : 정상군에 비해 알레르기 환아군에서 IL4 유전자의 두번째 인트론에 위치한 CpG 섬의 두 부위 모두에서 메틸화 특이 PCR 신호강도가 약하게 나타나는 반면 정상아에서는 118 bp PCR 산물과 205 bp PCR 산물이 모두 강하게 나타나서 메틸화된 것으로 보이며, 저위험군 알레르기 환아에서 최소한 한 부위에서 탈메틸화가 일어났으며 고위험군 알레르기 환아에서는 두 부위 모두에서 탈메틸화가 일어났다. 결 론 : 정상 대조군의 T 세포에서는 IL-4 유전자의 메틸화가 일어나고 알레르기 환아에서 고위험군과 저위험군 모두 정도의 차이는 있으나 메틸화의 소실이 관찰되었다. 이를 이용하여 향후 영유아기에서 아토피 유무를 판별할 수 있는 가능성을 제시하였으나 더 많은 연구가 필요할 것으로 사료된다.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.364-371
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• 2007

The tumor suppressor gene Ras association domain family 1A (RASSF1A) is highly methylated in a wide range of human sporadic tumors. The current study investigated the hypermethylation of RASSF1A, the expression of RASSF1A protein, and the correlation between these and the clinicopathological features of gallbladder (GB) cancer in Korean patients. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumors and non-neoplastic GB tissues (22 carcinomas, 8 adenomas, 26 normal epithelia) were collected from patients who had undergone surgical resection. The methylation status of two regions of the RASSF1A CpG island was determined by methylation-specific PCR (MSP), and the expression of RASSF1A protein was examined by immunohistochemistry using tissue microarrays. The K-RAS mutation was analyzed by direct sequencing. Methylation of the RASSF1A promoter (region 1) was detected in 22.7% (5/22) of carcinomas, 12.5% (1/8) of adenomas, and 0% (0/26) of normal gallbladder epithelia (P = 0.025). Methylation of the first exon (region 2) was found in 36.4% (8/22) of carcinomas, 25.0% (2/8) of adenomas, and 8.0% (2/26) of normal gallbladder epithelia (P = 0.038). K-RAS mutations were present in 4.5% (1/22) of carcinomas and 25% (2/8) of adenomas. RASSF1A methylaton was not associated with clinicopathological factors or K-ras mutation. Reduction or loss of RASSF1A expression was observed in most methylated adenocarcinomas. Three RASSF1A-expressing human biliary tract cancer cell lines examined contained unmethylated promoters and exons 1. These results suggest that downregulation of RASSF1A expression by DNA hypermethylation may be involved in GB carcinogenesis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제55권2호
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• pp.115-120
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• 2017

Encystation mediating cyst specific cysteine proteinase (CSCP) of Acanthamoeba castellanii is expressed remarkably during encystation. However, the molecular mechanism involved in the regulation of CSCP gene expression remains unclear. In this study, we focused on epigenetic regulation of gene expression during encystation of Acanthamoeba. To evaluate methylation as a potential mechanism involved in the regulation of CSCP expression, we first investigated the correlation between promoter methylation status of CSCP gene and its expression. A 2,878 bp of promoter sequence of CSCP gene was amplified by PCR. Three CpG islands (island 1-3) were detected in this sequence using bioinformatics tools. Methylation of CpG island in trophozoites and cysts was measured by bisulfite sequence PCR. CSCP promoter methylation of CpG island 1 (1,633 bp) was found in 8.2% of trophozoites and 7.3% of cysts. Methylation of CpG island 2 (625 bp) was observed in 4.2% of trophozoites and 5.8% of cysts. Methylation of CpG island 3 (367 bp) in trophozoites and cysts was both 3.6%. These results suggest that DNA methylation system is present in CSCP gene expression of Acanthamoeba. In addition, the expression of encystation mediating CSCP is correlated with promoter CpG island 1 hypomethylation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.1171-1176
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• 2014

Objective: The tumor suppressor gene, Ras-association domain family (RASSF)2A, is inactivated by promoter hypermethylation in many cancers. The current study was performed to evaluate the methylation status of RASSF2A in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) tissues and plasma, and correlations with gene expression and clinicopathologic characteristics. Method: We detected methylation of the RASSF2A gene in tissues and corresponding plasma samples from 47 EOC patients and 14 patients with benign ovarian tumors and 10 with normal ovarian tissues. The methylation status was determined by methylation-specific PCR while gene expression of mRNA was examined by RT-PCR. The EOC cell line, SKOV3, was treated with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-azadC). Results: RASSF2A mRNA expression was significantly low in EOC tissues. The frequency of aberrant methylation of RASSF2A was 51.1% in EOC tissues and 36.2% in corresponding plasma samples, whereas such hypermethylation was not detected in the benign ovarial tumors and normal ovarian samples. The expression of RASSF2A mRNA was significantly down-regulated or lost in the methylated group compared to the unmethylated group (p<0.05). After treatment with 5-aza-dC, RASSF2A mRNA expression was significantly restored in the Skov3 cell line. Conclusion: Epigenetic inactivation of RASSF2A through aberrant promoter methylation may play an important role in the pathogenesis of EOC. Methylation of the RASSF2A gene in plasma may be a valuable molecular marker for the early detection of EOC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.431-437
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• 2016

In this investigation, global DNA methylation patterns and the specific methylation status of 5 genes were studied in DNA from peripheral blood (PB) and impact on progression free survival (PFS) and overall-survival (OS) in patients with de novo or relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treated with decitabine-based regimens waas assessed. DNA was isolated from PB samples at the time of -1, 1, and 7 days of chemotherapy. Global methylation was determined by ELISA, and the CpG island DNA methylation profile of 5 genes using a DNA methylation PCR system. Our data demonstrated that patients with a high level of 5-mC had a poor prognosis after demethylation therapy and those who have low levels of 5-mC in PB achieved higher CR and better SO, but there was no significant correlation found between the 5-mC levels and other clinical features before treatment except the disease status. Higher methylation status of Sox2 and Oct4 genes was associated with differential response to demethylation therapy. A relatively low methylation percentage in one or both of these two genes was also associated with longer OS after decitabine based chemotherapy. We also suggest that global DNA and Oct-4/Sox2 methylation might impact on the pathogenesis of leukemia and play an important role in the initiation and progression. Moreover, dynamic analysis of 5-mC and Oct-4/Sox2 in peripheral blood nucleated cells of leukemia patients may provide clues to important molecular diagnostic and prognostic targets.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제53권3호
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• pp.432-436
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• 2010

일과성 신생아 당뇨병은 6번 염색체의 부친 이체성, 부친으로부터 유래한 염색체 6q24의 중복, ZAC 또는 HYMAI 유전자의 CpG 섬의 메틸화 결함에 의해 야기된다. 저자들은 고혈당, 거설증, 자궁내성장지연으로 발현되어 부친으로부터 유래된 HYMA1 유전자만을 보인 일과성 신생아 당뇨병 1례를 경험하였다. 생후 18일된 여아가 거설증과 반복되는 고혈당으로 입원하였다. 거설증과 함께 큰 대천문, 작은 턱, 두드러진 눈을 보였으며 혈중 포도당 농도는 200-300 mg/dL로 유지되다가 입원 2일 후부터 인슐린 투여 없이도 정상 범위로 유지되었다. 모체로부터 유래된 메틸화된 대립유전자 유무를 확인하기 위하여 말초 혈액으로부터 genomic DNA를 추출하여 bisulfite를 처리한 후, 메틸화 특이 중합 효소 연쇄 반응으로 HYMAI 유전자의 일부분을 증폭시키고, 제한 효소 BssHII를 이용한 제한 효소 절편 길이 다형성 (restriction fragment length polymorphism, RFLP) 분석을 이용하여 HYMAI 유전자의 메틸화 여부를 확인한 결과, HYMAI 유전자의 메틸화 결함을 보여 부친에서 유래된 HYMAI 유전자만을 갖고 있음을 확인하였다. HYMAI 유전자의 메틸화 검사를 통해 6번 염색체의 각인된 유전자가 증명되었으며 메틸화 결함으로 인해 일과성 신생아 당뇨병이 발생하였다.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제38권5호
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• pp.452-456
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• 2015

Obesity is the fifth leading risk for death globally, and a significant challenge to global health. It is a common, complex, non-malignant disease and develops due to interactions between the genes and the environment. DNA methylation can act as a downstream effector of environmental signals; analysis of this process therefore holds substantial promise for identifying mechanisms through which genetic and environmental factors jointly contribute to disease risk. To assess the effects of excessive weight and obesity on gene-specific methylation levels of promoter regions, we determined the methylation status of four genes involved in inflammation and oxidative stress [interleukin 6 (IL6), tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$ ($TNF{\alpha}$), mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM), and glucose transport 4 (GLUT4)] in blood cell-derived DNA from healthy women volunteers with a range of body mass indices (BMIs) by methylation-specific PCR. Interestingly, the samples from obese individuals ($BMI{\geq}30kg/m^2$) showed significantly increased hypermethylation for IL6 gene compared to normal weight ($BMI<23kg/m^2$) and overweight sample ($23kg/m^2{\leq}BMI<30kg/m^2$) (P = 0.034 and P = 0.026). However there was no statistically significant difference in promoter methylation of the other 3 genes between each group. These findings suggest that aberrant DNA methylation of IL6 gene promoter may play an important role in the etiology and pathogenesis of obesity and IL6 methylation could be used as molecular biomarker for obesity risk assessment. Further studies are required to elucidate the potential mechanisms underlying this relationship.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권7호
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• pp.4187-4193
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• 2013

Background: Evaluation of Human papilloma virus (HPV) and its association with promoter methylation of candidate genes, p53 and Aurora A in esophageal cancer. Materials and Methods: One hundred forty-one esophageal tissue samples from different pathologies were evaluated for HPV infection by PCR, while the promoter methylation status of p53 and Aurora A was assessed by methylation-specific restriction based PCR assay. Statistical analyses were performed with MedCalc and MDR software. Results: Based on endoscopy and histopathology, samples were categorized: cancers (n=56), precancers (n=7), esophagitis (n=19) and normals (n=59). HPV infection was found to be less common in cancers (19.6%), whereas its prevalence was relatively high in precancers (71.4%), esophagitis (57.8%) and normals (45.7%). p53 promoter methylation did not show any significant difference between cancer and normal tissues, whereas Aurora A promoter methylation demonstrated significant association with disease (p=0.00016, OR:5.6452, 95%CI:2.18 to 14.6) when compared to normals. Aurora A methylation and HPV infection was found in a higher percentages of precancer (66.6%), esophagitis (54.5%) and normal (45.2%) when compared to cancers (14.2%). Conclusions: Aurora A promoter methylation is significantly associated with esophageal cancer, but the effect of HPV infection on this epigenetic alteration is not significant. However MDR analysis showed that the hypostatic effect of HPV was nullified when the cases had Aurora methylation and tobacco exposure. Further HPV sub-typing may give an insight into its reduced prevalence in esophageal cancer verses normal tissue. However, with the present data it is difficult to assign any significant role to HPV in the etiopathology of esophageal cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권6호
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• pp.2719-2725
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• 2014

Background: Secreted frizzled-related protein (SFRP) genes, new tumor suppressor genes, are negative regulators of the Wnt pathway whose alteration is associated with various tumors. In ovarian cancer, SFRPs genes promoter methylation can lead to gene inactivation. This study investigated mechanisms of SFRP and adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) genes silencing in ovarian cancer infected with high risk human papillomavirus. Materials and Methods: DNA was extracted from 200 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded ovarian cancer and their normal adjacent tissues (NAT) and DNA methylation was detected by methylation specific PCR (MSP). High risk human papillomavirus (HPV) was detected by nested PCR with consensus primers to amplify a broad spectrum of HPV genotypes. Results: The percentages of SFRP and APC genes with methylation were significantly higher in ovarian cancer tissues infected with high risk HPV compared to NAT. The methylated studied genes were associated with suppression in their gene expression. Conclusion: This finding highlights the possible role of the high risk HPV virus in ovarian carcinogenesis or in facilitating cancer progression by suppression of SFRP and APC genes via DNA methylation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.299-302
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• 2013

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) has been reported to be associated with DNA methylation, an epigenetic feature frequently found in gastric cancer. We conducted a case-control study to explore the association of MTHFR C677T polymorphisms with gastric cancer risk and its relation with the DNA methylation of COX-2, MGMT, and hMLH1 genes. Genotyping of P16, MGMT and HMLH1 was determined by methylation-specific PCR after sodium bisulfate modification of DNA, and genotyping of MTHFR C677T was conducted by TaqMan assays using the ABI Prism 7911HT Sequence Detection System. Folate intake was calculated with the aid of a questionnaire. Compared with the MTHFR 677CC genotype, the TT genotype was significantly associated with 2.08 fold risk of gastric cancer when adjusting for potential risk factors. Individuals who had an intake of folate above $310{\mu}g$/day showed protective effects against gastric cancer risk. The effect of MTHFR C677T polymorphisms on the risk of gastric cancer was modified by folate intake and methylation status of MGMT (P for interaction <0.05).