DNA methylation pattern of apoptosis-related genes in ameloblastoma

Abstract

Objectives

DNA methylation is an important mechanism of gene control expression, and it has been poorly addressed in odontogenic tumours. On this basis, we aimed to assess the methylation pattern of 22 apoptosis-related genes in solid ameloblastomas

Materials and Methods

Ameloblastoma fresh samples (n=10) and dental follicles (n=8) were included in the study. The percentage fraction of methylated and unmethylated DNA promoter of 22 apoptosis-related genes was determined by using enzymatic restriction digestion and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) array. The relative expressions of the genes that showed the most discrepant methylation profile between tumours and controls were analysed by reverse-transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR).

Results

Lower methylation percentages of TNFRSF25 (47.2%) and BCL2L11 (33.2%) were observed in ameloblastomas compared to dental follicles (79.3% and 59.5%, respectively). The RT-qPCR analysis showed increased expression of BCL2L11 in ameloblastomas compared to dental follicles, in agreement with the methylation analysis results, while there was no difference between the expression levels of TNFRSF25 between both groups

Conclusions

On the basis of our results, the transcription of the apoptosis-related gene BCL2L11 is possibly regulated by promoter DNA methylation in ameloblastoma. The biological significance of this finding in ameloblastoma pathobiology remains to be clarified.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

http://ift.tt/2lqWFc2