Synergy of DNA methylation and histone deacetylase inhibitors in the re-expression of RASSF1A and P16 genes silenced in QBC cells

Objective: To investigate the effects of DNA methylation and histone deacetylase inhibitors in the re-expression of P16 and RASSIF1A of QBC939. Methods: The QBC939 cells were treated with hydralazine and valproate either alone or combined, and the control group was added with RPIM-1640 culture medium. After 48 h, the expression of P16 and RASSF1A genes were evaluated by reverse transcription-PCR, Western blot, and the methylation status of the two genes were detected with MSP (methylation specific PCR). Results: Hydralazine and valproate could induce demethylation of the promoter region of the two genes, and could make them re-active. The expressions of P16 and RASSF1A of cells treated with both drugs were higher than that of the cells treated with either hydralazine or valproate (P < 0.01). There was no RASSF1A gene, and few P16 gene expressing in the control group. The demethylation effect could be found in the groups treated with hydralazine or both drugs, whereas no demethylation effect happened in the valproate group. Conclusion: The two drugs could synergistically re-express P16 and RASSF1A genes silenced in QBC939, and they exerted a great anti-tumour effect on QBC cells.

Hypermethylation and expression regulation of secreted frizzled-related protein genes in colorectal tumor

AIM： To investigate the functions of promoter hypermethylation of secreted frizzled-related proteins （sFRPs） genes in colorectal tumorigenesis and progression. METHODS： The promoter hypermethylation and expression of sFRP genes in 72 sporadic colorectal carcinomas, 33 adenomas, 18 aberrant crypt foci （ACF） and colorectal cancer cell lines RKO, HCT116 and SW480 were detected by methylation-specific PCR and reverse transcription PCR, respectively. RESULTS： None of the normal colorectal mucosa tissues showed methylated bands of any of four sFRP genes, sFRP1, 2, 4 and 5 were frequently methylated in colorectal carcinoma, adenoma and ACF （sFRP1 〉 85%, sFRP2 〉75%, sFRP5 〉 50%）, and the differences between three colorectal tissues were not significant （P 〉 0.05）. IVlethylation in colorectal tumors was more frequent than in normal mucosa and adjacent normal mucosa. The mRNA of sFRP1-5 genes was expressed in all normal colorectal mucosa samples. Expression of sFRP1, 2, 4 and 5 and sFRP1, 2 and 5 was downregulated in carcinoma and adenoma, respectively. The downregulation of sFRP2, 4 and 5 was more frequent in carcinoma than in adenoma. Expression of sFRP3 which promoter has no CpG island was downregulated in only a few of colorectal tumor samples （7/105）. The downregulation ofsFRP1, 2, 4 and 5 expression was significantly associated with promoter hypermethylation in colorectal tumor. After cells were treated by DAC/TSA combination, the silenced sFRP mRNA expression could be effectively re-expressed in colorectal cancer cell lines. CONCLUSION： Hypermethylation of sFRP genes is a common early event in the evolution of colorectal tumor, occurring frequently in ACF, which is regarded as the earliest lesion of multistage colorectal carcinogenesis. It appears to functionally silence sFRP genes expression. Methylation of sFRP1, 2 and 5 genes might serve as indicators for colorectal tumor.