title: Lack of correlation between hypomethylation and expression of the HLA-DR alpha gene.
abstract: DNA methylation at the 5'-CCGG-3' sites of the HLA-DR alpha gene and relative flanking regions has been analyzed by Msp I and Hpa II enzymatic digestion in order to determine whether a correlation exists between DNA methylation and transcription of the HLA-DR alpha gene. Unexpectedly, and in contrast to the behavior of most eukaryotic genes, no positive correlation was found between hypomethylation and expression. In fact, HLA-DR alpha appears to be fully unmethylated at Msp I/Hpa II sites in K562 cells, not expressing DR molecules, and to exhibit a high degree of methylation in Colo 38 cells, which actively transcribe the gene. The unorthodox behavior of HLA-DR alpha is not unique to melanoma or erythroid cells since a similar, positive correlation between methylation and expression also exists when this analysis is extended to cell lines belonging to other histotypes.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gambari
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Del Senno
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barbieri
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Buzzoni
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gustafsson
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giacomini
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Natali
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005796:Genes; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D008745:Methylation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D012333:RNA, Messenger