Preferential loss of Death Associated Protein kinase expression in invasive pituitary tumours is associated with either CpG island methylation or homozygous deletion.

Death Associated Protein kinase (DAP kinase) a novel calmodulin-dependent serine/threonine kinase was first identified as a positive mediator of programmed cell death. Loss of DAP kinase expression was first demonstrated in highly metastatic cells, whilst re-expression of the protein resulted in delayed local tumour growth and a decreased incidence of metastasis. Although loss of DAP kinase expression has been reported in several cell lines derived from human malignancies the mechanisms responsible have not been defined. In this study we have examined 32 sporadic pituitary tumours for expression of the DAP kinase protein and transcript. In addition, we examined the methylation and deletion status of the DAP kinase CpG island as possible mechanisms for the inactivation of the DAP kinase gene. Eleven of 32 (34%) tumours had undetectable DAP kinase expression, by Western blot and/or RT-PCR analysis. Loss of DAP kinase expression was significantly (P=0.004) associated with invasive tumours (10 of 17; 59%) compared to their non-invasive (1 of 15; 7%) counterparts. Of 11 tumours that failed to express DAP kinase, five (45%) showed de novo methylation of the CpG island contained within the promoter region, while four (36%) had evidence of homozygous deletion of this region. Statistical analysis showed that loss of DAP kinase expression was significantly (P=<0.001) associated with methylation or deletion of the DAP kinase CpG island. With two exceptions, none of the remaining tumours or five histologically normal post-mortem pituitaries examined had evidence of methylation or deletion within this region. To our knowledge this is the first report that describes two mutually exclusive mechanisms associated with loss of DAP kinase gene expression. In addition, we also show that loss of the DAP kinase protein and associated genetic aberrations preferentially segregates with tumours that show an invasive phenotype.