Aberrant DNA methylation of the transcription factor C/EBPalpha in acute myelogenous leukemia.
We investigated the methylation status of the CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha (C/EBPalpha) promoter region near the transcription start site in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). In hematopoietic tumor cell lines, CpG island hypermethylation of the proximal C/EBPalpha promoter region was associated with transcriptional silencing, and treatment with the demethylating agent 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine resulted in C/EBPalpha reexpression and promoter demethylation. Aberrant methylation of the C/EBPalpha promoter region occurred in 10/80 diagnostic AML samples, and there was an inverse correlation between aberrant methylation of C/EBPalpha and the negative cell cycle regulator p15. Our results provide further evidence for epigenetic dysregulation of C/EBPalpha in AML.
Jost
Edgar
E
Medizinische Klinik IV, Universitaetsklinikum Aachen, RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
do O
Nicole
N
Wilop
Stefan
S
Herman
James G
JG
Osieka
Rainhardt
R
Galm
Oliver
O