Transcriptional activity of DNMT3B in pancreatic cancer cells: effects of -149 (C→T) promoter polymorphism.

Polymorphic C-to-T change in the promoter region of DNA-methyltransferase-3B (DNMT3B) gene is associated with risk of several cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of DNMT3B promoter genetic variant on its transcriptional activity and to compare activity in several pancreatic cell lines. DNMT3B promoter constructs carrying either -149C allele or -149T allele were transiently transfected into pancreatic cancer cells. In promoter assaying, carriage of -149T allele showed only a slight activity (1.1-fold) in Mia cells (p=0.462). In contrast, significant increase (3.8-fold) in activity of -149T allele was shown in SU86.86 pancreatic cancer cells (p=0.0001). These preliminary findings suggest that genetic variance may influence DNMT3B expression in pancreatic cancer. Further studies are needed. Published by Elsevier Inc.