Epigenetic silencing of the imprinted gene ZAC by DNA methylation is an early event in the progression of human ovarian cancer.
ZAC is a paternally expressed, imprinted gene located on chromosome 6q24, within a region known to harbor a tumor suppressor gene for several types of neoplasia, including human ovarian cancer (HOC). We have failed to identify genetic mutations in the ZAC gene in tumor material. Many imprinted genes contain differentially allele-specific-methylated regions (DMR) and harbor promoter activity that is regulated by the DNA methylation. Aberrant DNA methylation is a common feature of neoplasia and changes in DNA methylation at the ZAC locus have been reported in some cases of HOC. We investigated the DNA methylation and ZAC mRNA expression levels in a larger sample of primary HOC material, obtained by laser capture microdissection. ZAC mRNA expression was reduced in the majority of samples and this correlated with hypermethylation of the ZAC-DMR. Treatment of hypermethylated cells lines with a demethylating agent restored ZAC expression. Our studies indicate that transcriptional silencing of ZAC is likely to be caused by DNA methylation in HOC. Forced expression of ZAC resulted in a reduction in proliferation and marked induction of apoptotic cell death. The ZAC-mediated apoptosis signal is p53-independent and eliminated by inhibitors of caspase 3, 8 and 9. Reduced expression of ZAC would therefore favor tumor progression. As there were no significant differences in either DNA methylation or expression of ZAC mRNA between localized and advanced tumors, our data indicates that loss of ZAC is a relatively early event in HOC. (Supplementary material for this article can be found on the International Journal of Cancer website at http://www.interscience.wiley.com/jpages/0020-7136/suppmat/index.html.)
Kamikihara
Tetsuya
T
Department of Molecular Genetics, Division of Molecular and Cell Therapeutics, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyusyu University, Oita, Japan.
Arima
Takahiro
T
Kato
Kiyoko
K
Matsuda
Takao
T
Kato
Hidenori
H
Douchi
Tsutomu
T
Nagata
Yukihiro
Y
Nakao
Mitsuyoshi
M
Wake
Norio
N
D017209:Apoptosis; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D019175:DNA Methylation; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D020868:Gene Silencing; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D018392:Genomic Imprinting; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D016335:Zinc Fingers
D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; C106464:PLAGL1 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins