title: Methylation status of cKi-ras and MHC genes in rat pituitary glands during aging and tumorigenesis.
abstract: Methylation patterns of MHC (major histocompatibility complex) class I and vKi-ras (viral Kirsten-ras) homologous sequences in normal and adenomatous rat pituitary glands were studied as a function of age by Southern hybridization analysis using the isoschizomers Hpa II and Msp I. Both MHC class I and vKi-ras homologous sequences were found to be hypomethylated in a number of tumors, compared to normal pituitary gland tissue. However, despite reports indicating a general demethylation in mammalian tissues in relation to donor age, age-related methylation changes in this apparently methylation-unstable and cancer-prone organ were not observed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, TNO Institute for Aging, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Slagboom
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Uitterlinden
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vijg
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000235:genetics; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005805:Genes, MHC Class I; D011905:Genes, ras; D008745:Methylation; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D004247:DNA