title: Androgen receptor CpG island methylation status in human leukemia cancer cells.
abstract: The methylation status of the androgen receptor gene (AR) in leukemia cell lines was investigated. Results showed the presence of both methylated and unmethylated CpG islands of the AR promotor in leukemia cell lines. In the normal blood samples, only unmethylated bands were observed. In 15 bone marrow samples from patients with leukemia, 12 cases (80%) showed both methylated and unmethylated alleles and 3 cases (20%) showed only methylated alleles. To understand whether AR mRNA and protein expression are reduced by methylation, we treated leukemia cells with 5-Aza-Dc and detected the expression of mRNA and protein by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. The treatment of 5-Aza-Dc increased AR expression in all cell lines researched. This study indicates that reduced AR mRNA expression in leukemia cell lines was in part related to DNA methylation. The aberrant methylation of AR gene could be one molecular and genetic alteration in leukemia.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of International cooperation, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China. zejunliu2000@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Ze-Jun
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Shou-Zhi
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Xiao-Bing
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001374:Azacitidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002648:Child; D018899:CpG Islands; D019175:DNA Methylation; D000077209:Decitabine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C410798:AR protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D000077209:Decitabine; D001374:Azacitidine