title: Mapping of the methylation pattern of the MUC2 promoter in pancreatic cancer cell lines, using bisulfite genomic sequencing.
abstract: Expression of the MUC2 gene is controlled by the methylation of CpG sites in the promoter region, but the detailed methylation status of this region has yet to be reported. We have mapped the complete methylation status of the MUC2 promoter from position -1989 to position +288 upstream, a region that contains 59 CpG sites, using bisulfite genomic sequencing in two pancreatic cancer cell lines (PANC1, BxPC3) and in isolated normal colon crypts as a control. The MUC2 promoter in PANC1, a cell line that does not express MUC2, was highly methylated (average 87%, complete methylation at 28 of the 59 CpG sites), while the promoter region in the MUC2-expressing BxPC3 cell line (average 43%, complete methylation at 2 of 59 CpG sites) and in MUC2-expressing normal colon crypts (average 33%, no CpG site was completely methylated) were only partially methylated (P<0.0001). 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine treatment of PANC1 cells reduced the methylation level (average 36%) and induced MUC2 mRNA expression. However, mRNA expression of AP2, SP1 and CDX2 was not affected by this treatment. Our data provide the first detailed methylation map of the MUC2 promoter region for the first time, using the conversion-specific bisulfite genomic sequencing. Previously unproven methylation sites were detected, and some AP2 and SP1 binding sites showed different methylation levels among PANC1, BxPC3 and colonic crypt cells. Our mapping data provide an essential basis for further studies of methylation-regulated MUC2 inactivation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Pathology, Field of Oncology, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8544, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomofumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hamada
authors.forename: Masamichi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsutsumida
authors.forename: Mitsuharu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nomoto
authors.forename: Michiyo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Higashi
authors.forename: Tamotsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sugai
authors.forename: Shin-ichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Suguru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yonezawa
mesh_terms: D001374:Azacitidine; D003106:Colon / Q000378:metabolism; D018899:CpG Islands; D019175:DNA Methylation; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D020868:Gene Silencing; D006801:Humans; D055262:Mucin-2; D009077:Mucins / Q000235:genetics*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D016329:Sp1 Transcription Factor; D013447:Sulfites; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: C524625:MUC2 protein, human; D055262:Mucin-2; D009077:Mucins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016329:Sp1 Transcription Factor; D013447:Sulfites; D001374:Azacitidine; C042345:hydrogen sulfite