Promoter methylation of the secreted frizzled-related protein 1 gene SFRP1 is frequent in hepatocellular carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
The secreted frizzled-related protein 1 gene (SFRP1) encodes a Wnt/beta-catenin signaling antagonist and frequently is inactivated by promoter methylation in many tumors. However, the role of SFRP1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is not clear. Therefore, the authors investigated whether methylation of the SFRP1 promoter is common in HCC and whether it may influence SFRP1 expression.


METHODS
Four HCC cell lines, 54 HCCs, 42 cirrhotic livers, 21 livers with chronic hepatitis, and 15 normal control tissues were analyzed for 1) SFRP1 promoter methylation by using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction analysis and bisulfite sequencing, 2) SFRP1 messenger RNA expression by using quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis, and 3) loss of heterozygosity (LOH) by using microsatellite markers flanking the SFRP1 locus. HCC cells were treated with the demethylating agent 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine to determine whether it could restore SFRP1 expression.


RESULTS
SFRP1 promoter methylation was observed in 75%, 48.2%, 21.4%, 14.3% and 0% in HCC cell lines, primary HCCs, cirrhotic livers, livers with chronic hepatitis, and normal control tissues, respectively. Methylation of the SFRP1 promoter region in HCCs increased significantly compared with control tissues. All samples with SFRP1 methylation showed down-regulation of SFRP1 expression. Demethylation treatment with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine in HCC cells restored SFRP1 expression. Moreover, LOH of markers D8S505 and D8S1722 was found in 25% and 27.6% of the informative samples, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The current results suggested that promoter hypermethylation of SFRP1 is a common event in HCC and plays an important role in the regulation of SFRP1 expression. In addition to methylation-mediated down-regulation of SFRP1, LOH also may play a role.
Shih
Yu-Lueng
YL
Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
Shyu
Rong-Yuan
RY
Hsieh
Chung-Bao
CB
Lai
Hung-Cheng
HC
Liu
Kuo-Yu
KY
Chu
Tang-Yuan
TY
Lin
Ya-Wen
YW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D019175:DNA Methylation; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D020868:Gene Silencing; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D019656:Loss of Heterozygosity; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000094742:Secreted Frizzled-Related Proteins
D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C117636:SFRP1 protein, human; D000094742:Secreted Frizzled-Related Proteins