title: [hMLH1 gene promoter methylation in joint cartilage in patients with osteoarthritis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the role of Human MutL homologue 1 (hMLH1) gene promoter methylation in the occurrence and development of osteoarthritis (OA).
  
  
  METHODS
  General DNA was dealt with sodium bisulfite. The methylation of hMLH1 promoter was detected by methylation-specific PCR (MSP). hMLH1 protein expression in joint cartilage was detected by immunohistochemical method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The positive percent of hMLH1 promoter methylation in OA patients was higher than that in healthy persons (χ(2)=30.634, P<0.001); the positive percent of hMLH1 protein in OA patients was significantly lower than that in healthy persons (χ(2)=37.724, P<0.001); prmoter methylation and protein expression level of hMLH1 gene showed negative correlation (rs=-0.554, P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  hMLH1 promoter is hypermethlated in joint cartilage cells of OA patients. Hypermethylation may affect the protein expression of hMLH1, which might play a role in the occurrence and development of OA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Central South University, Changsha, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Minghui
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Peng
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D019175:DNA Methylation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000070957:MutL Protein Homolog 1; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; C501486:MLH1 protein, human; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D000070957:MutL Protein Homolog 1