title: Promoter methylation status of the tumor suppressor gene SOX11 is associated with cell growth and invasion in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The transcription factor SOX11 is one of members of the SRY box-containing (SOX) family emerging as important transcriptional regulators. In recent years, up-regulation of SOX11 has been detected in various types of solid tumors. In this study, the effects of promoter methylation of the SOX11 gene on SOX11 expression and cell growth and invasion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma were investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study,methylation-specific PCR and real time quantitative PCR have been applied to investigate the effect of promoter methylation of the SOX11 gene on SOX11 expression in the nasopharyngeal carcinoma and chronic inflammation tissues. The nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line (CNE2) was treated with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine. The effect of promoter methylation of SOX11 on growth and invasion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells was detected with MTT test and Boyden chamber Matrigel invasion assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No or weak expression of SOX11 mRNA was detected in the nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissues of SOX11 gene promoter methylation. Strong expression of SOX11 mRNA was detected in the nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissues of SOX11 gene promoter unmethylation and chronic inflammation tissues of pharynx nasalis. SOX11 mRNA and protein were re-expressed, SOX11 gene was demethylated, and growth and invasion of cells were inhibited in CNE2 cell line after 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the study indicate that expression of SOX11 mRNA and protein were related to SOX11 gene methylation status. SOX11 gene methylation may be plays a role in growth and invasion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Guang Ming New District People's Hospital of Shenzhen, Song Bai Road 339#, Shenzhen, Guang Dong TX 518106, PR China.
authors.forename: Song
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Nanshan People's Hospital of Shenzhen, Tao Yuan Road 89#, Shenzhen, Guang Dong TX 518052, PR China.
authors.forename: Shuo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Nanshan People's Hospital of Shenzhen, Tao Yuan Road 89#, Shenzhen, Guang Dong TX 518052, PR China.
authors.forename: Jin-Liang
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Gao