Does RNA editing play a role in the development of urinary bladder cancer?
OBJECTIVE
A-to-I RNA editing is essential for the development of normal cells and is involved in a wide variety of biological pathways. Currently, limited information suggests linkage between changes in RNA editing levels and the development of cancer. We aimed to explore the possible linkage between altered RNA editing levels and the development of human urinary bladder neoplasms.


METHODS
Thirty-two patients underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumor. Normal and tumoral urinary bladder tissues were obtained from each patient during surgery. Total RNA was extracted from tissue cells and converted by RT-PCR reaction to cDNA molecules for further analysis. We explored known editing sites in RNA encoding for proteins (BLCAP, Cyfip2, FLNA, GluB Q/R) as well as in RNA transcribed from Alu elements in noncoding regions of the genes encoding for CARD11, FANCC, MDM4, BRCA1, and RBBP9 proteins. Editing levels were determined using Sequenom MassARRAY Compact Analyzer.


RESULTS
Eleven tumoral tissues obtained were low grade TCC, 14 high grade TCC, 1 CIS, and another 5 inflammation. One sample contained only normal tissue. We got a total number of 30 normal bladder tissue samples and overall 29 paired samples (i.e., normal and tumoral tissues obtained from the same patient). Statistical analysis revealed no significant changes in editing levels between normal and tumoral tissues.


CONCLUSIONS
Relying on the results obtained for 9 different editing sites, it can be determined that RNA editing is an epigenetic mechanism that does not participate in the evolution of urinary bladder cancer.
Zilberman
Dorit E
DE
Department of Urology, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Ha'Shomer, Ramat-Gan, Affiliated to Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel. dorit1e@yahoo.com
Safran
Michal
M
Paz
Nurit
N
Amariglio
Ninette
N
Simon
Amos
A
Fridman
Edward
E
Kleinmann
Nir
N
Ramon
Jacob
J
Rechavi
Gideon
G
D000241:Adenosine / Q000737:chemistry; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020087:Alu Elements / Q000235:genetics; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D057890:Epigenomics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007288:Inosine / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D011379:Prognosis; D017393:RNA Editing / Q000235:genetics*; D012322:RNA Precursors / Q000235:genetics; D022661:RNA, Untranslated / Q000235:genetics; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology
D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012322:RNA Precursors; D022661:RNA, Untranslated; D007288:Inosine; D000241:Adenosine