BACKGROUND: A correlation between melanoma-associated antigen (MAGE) A1 mRNA expression and genome-wide hypomethylation has been observed in some carcinomas, but this relationship is not known in hepatocarcinoma. METHODS: Total RNA and genomic DNA were prepared from ten human hepatocarcinoma cell lines in which the genetic characteristics are stable. MAGE-1 mRNA expression was determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and the level of genome-wide demethylation was evaluated by enzyme digestion and Southern-blot assay. The methylation status of the MAGE-A1 gene promoter was measured by enzyme digestion and PCR. RESULTS: MAGE-A1 mRNA was detected in the hepatocarcinoma cell lines QGY-7703, SMMC-7721, HLE, BEL-7402, BEL-7404, and BEL-7405, which showed moderate to low levels of cell differentiation. In contrast, MAGE-A1 mRNA expression was not detected in the hepatoma cell lines HepG2215, HepG2, QGY-7701, and Huh7, which showed moderate to high levels of differentiation. The level of demethylation in MAGE-A1 mRNA-positive cell lines was much higher than that in MAGE-A1 mRNA-negative cell lines (P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that MAGE-A1 mRNA expression in human hepatoma cell lines is associated with hypomethylation of the genome and the MAGE-A1 promoter domain. This study will be helpful to reveal the expression mechanisms of MAGE-like tumor antigens in cancer cells.
BACKGROUND: A correlation between melanoma-associated antigen (MAGE) A1 mRNA expression and genome-wide hypomethylation has been observed in some carcinomas, but this relationship is not known in hepatocarcinoma. METHODS: Total RNA and genomic DNA were prepared from ten human hepatocarcinoma cell lines in which the genetic characteristics are stable. MAGE-1 mRNA expression was determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and the level of genome-wide demethylation was evaluated by enzyme digestion and Southern-blot assay. The methylation status of the MAGE-A1 gene promoter was measured by enzyme digestion and PCR. RESULTS:MAGE-A1 mRNA was detected in the hepatocarcinoma cell lines QGY-7703, SMMC-7721, HLE, BEL-7402, BEL-7404, and BEL-7405, which showed moderate to low levels of cell differentiation. In contrast, MAGE-A1 mRNA expression was not detected in the hepatoma cell lines HepG2215, HepG2, QGY-7701, and Huh7, which showed moderate to high levels of differentiation. The level of demethylation in MAGE-A1 mRNA-positive cell lines was much higher than that in MAGE-A1 mRNA-negative cell lines (P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that MAGE-A1 mRNA expression in humanhepatoma cell lines is associated with hypomethylation of the genome and the MAGE-A1 promoter domain. This study will be helpful to reveal the expression mechanisms of MAGE-like tumor antigens in cancer cells.
Authors: N Sadanaga; H Nagashima; K Mashino; K Tahara; H Yamaguchi; M Ohta; T Fujie; F Tanaka; H Inoue; K Takesako; T Akiyoshi; M Mori Journal: Clin Cancer Res Date: 2001-08 Impact factor: 12.531
Authors: H Chen; S Cai; Y Wang; H Zhao; J Peng; X Pang; J Zhu; X Cong; J Rui; X Leng; R Du; Y Wang; H Vaughan; J Cebon; A W Burgess; W Chen Journal: Chin Med J (Engl) Date: 2000-12 Impact factor: 2.628
Authors: F Brasseur; D Rimoldi; D Liénard; B Lethé; S Carrel; F Arienti; L Suter; R Vanwijck; A Bourlond; Y Humblet Journal: Int J Cancer Date: 1995-11-03 Impact factor: 7.396
Authors: P van der Bruggen; C Traversari; P Chomez; C Lurquin; E De Plaen; B Van den Eynde; A Knuth; T Boon Journal: Science Date: 1991-12-13 Impact factor: 47.728