title: Epigenetic inactivation of SLIT2 in human hepatocellular carcinomas.
abstract: Recent findings have shown that SLIT2 appears to function as a novel tumor suppressor gene. In addition, hypermethylation of its promoter region has been detected in various cancers, including breast and lung cancer, colorectal carcinoma, and gliomas. Here, we report for the first time that there is epigenetic silencing of SLIT2 in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Downregulation of SLIT2 was detected in 6 of 8 (75%) HCC cell lines by quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR), and the downregulation of SLIT2 was generally dependent on the degree of methylation at the promoter region. Furthermore, expression of SLIT2 was restored in relatively low-expressing cell lines after treatment with 5-aza-2-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-dC). Downregulation of SLIT2 expression was also detected in 45 of 54 primary HCC samples (83.3%), and the decrease in expression was significantly correlated with CpG island hypermethylation. This decrease of SLIT2 expression was also associated with lymph node metastasis in HCC. Moreover, overexpression of SLIT2 in SMMC-7721 cells induced by recombinant adenovirus suppressed cell growth, migration, and invasion, These results suggest that epigenetic inactivation of SLIT2 in HCC may be important in the development and progression of HCC. Thus, SLIT2 may be useful as a therapeutic target in the treatment of HCC.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Haiyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: You
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Genfu
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Huiqun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shu
authors.forename: Shengli
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Wenxin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Qin
mesh_terms: D001374:Azacitidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001483:Base Sequence; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement; D019175:DNA Methylation; D015254:DNA Modification Methylases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D020868:Gene Silencing; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D000098552:Slit Homolog 2 Protein
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D015254:DNA Modification Methylases; D001374:Azacitidine; D000098552:Slit Homolog 2 Protein