title: Alterations of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodelling subunit-BRG1 and BRM in hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The SWI/SNF chromatin remodelling complex, which contains either brahma-related gene-1 (BRG1) or brahma (BRM) as the catalytic ATPase, functions as a master regulator of gene expression.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine alterations of BRG1 and BRM in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated DNA copy number aberrations in human HCC cell lines using a high-density oligonucleotide microarray. We determined DNA copy numbers and expression levels of BRG1 and BRM genes in primary HCC tumours, and conducted further searches for mutations in BRG1 and BRM genes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Homozygous deletion of the BRG1 gene was found in HCC cell line SNU398. Copy number losses of BRG1 and BRM genes were observed in 14 (26%) and 7 (13%) of 54 primary HCC tumours respectively. We found four somatic missense mutations in the BRG1 gene in two of 36 primary HCC tumours, but no mutations in BRM gene. Expression of BRM mRNA, but not BRG1 mRNA, was significantly reduced in primary HCC tumours, compared to non-tumour tissue counterparts. Immunohistochemical analyses of non-tumour liver tissues showed that BRM protein was expressed in hepatocytes and bile-duct epithelial cells, whereas BRG1 protein was expressed in bile-duct epithelial cells, but not in hepatocytes. BRM protein expression was lost in nine (22.5%) of 40 HCC tumours. Loss of BRM protein expression was significantly associated with poor overall survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reduced expression of BRM may contribute to the carcinogenesis of HCC. Although deletions and mutations in BRG1 gene were identified, the role of BRG1 in HCC tumourigenesis remains unclear.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Mio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Endo
authors.forename: Kohichiroh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yasui
authors.forename: Yoh
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zen
authors.forename: Yasuyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gen
authors.forename: Keika
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zen
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsuji
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dohi
authors.forename: Hironori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mitsuyoshi
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Masafumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taniwaki
authors.forename: Yasuni
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakanuma
authors.forename: Shigeki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arii
authors.forename: Toshikazu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D056915:DNA Copy Number Variations; D004265:DNA Helicases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005260:Female; D017353:Gene Deletion; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020125:Mutation, Missense; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011379:Prognosis; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C084011:SMARCA2 protein, human; C445179:SWI-SNF-B chromatin-remodeling complex; D014157:Transcription Factors; C084108:SMARCA4 protein, human; D004265:DNA Helicases