DNA methyltransferase (DNMTs) expression in cervical cancer tissues and its relationship with HPV infection and tumor malignancy

Objective:To study the DNA methyltransferase (DNMTs) expression in cervical cancer tissues and its relationship with human papilloma virus (HPV) infection and tumor malignancy. Methods:The cervical cancer tissues and normal cervical tissues surgically removed in Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of our hospital between July 2013 and March 2016 were collected, the fluorescent quantitative PCR method was used to determine the mRNA expression of DNMTs in the tissues, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits were used to determine the protein expression of DNMTs molecules and pro-apoptotic molecules in the tissues. Results:DNMT1, DNMT2, DNMT3a, DNMT3b and DNMT3l mRNA expression and protein expression in cervical cancer tissues were significantly higher than those in normal cervical tissues (P<0.05) while Fas, FasL, Bax and Caspase-3 protein expression were significantly lower than those in normal cervical tissues (P<0.05);DNMT1, DNMT2, DNMT3a, DNMT3b and DNMT3l protein expression in cervical cancer tissues with high-risk HPV infection (+) were significantly higher than those in cervical cancer tissues with high-risk HPV infection (-) (P<0.05);Fas, FasL, Bax and Caspase-3 protein expression were negatively correlated with DNMT1, DNMT2, DNMT3a, DNMT3b and DNMT3l protein expression. Conclusions:Elevated DNMTs expression in cervical cancer tissues is associated with high-risk HPV infection, and highly expressed DNMTs can inhibit the expression of pro-apoptotic molecules.