title: The methylation status of the TMS1/ASC gene in cholangiocarcinoma and its clinical significance.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  TMS1/ASC is a bipartite protein comprising two protein-protein interactive domains: pyrin (PYD) and caspase recruitment domain (CARD). Proteins containing these domains play pivotal roles in regulating apoptosis and immune response pathways. The absence of TMS1/ASC expression in some tumors is because methylation of the TMS1/ASC gene contributes to carcinogenesis and cancer development. We studied the methylation status of the TMS1/ASC gene and its clinical significance in cholangiocarcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Target DNA was modified by sodium bisulfite, coverting all unmethylated, but not methylated, cytosines to uracil, and subsequently by a nested amplification with primers specific for methylated versus unmethylated DNA. The PCR product was detected by gel electrophoresis and combined with the clinical records of patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Aberrant methylation of the TMS1/ASC gene was detected in specimens of colorectal cancer tissues from 13 (36.1%) of 36 patients, and specimens of adjacent normal tissues from 3 patients (8.3%). No statistical differences were seen in the extent of differentiation and invasion, lymph node metastasis, and pathologic type between the methylated and unmethylated tissues (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The frequency of TMS1/ASC gene methylation in cholangiocarcinoma is high, but it is not related to pathologic changes. The TMS1/ASC gene is probably suppressed by methylation, and is resistant to apoptosis and immunological surveillance. The gene epigenetically affected in methylated tissues could be associated with carcinogenesis of cholangiocarcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Qingdao University Medical College, Yantai 264000, China. Liu634@263.net
authors.forename: Xiao-Fang
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Shi-Guang
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Hai-Long
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Shao-Jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xian-Ting
authors.initials: XT
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D053468:CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D017931:DNA Primers; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D053468:CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; C402202:PYCARD protein, human