title: Down-regulation of the expression of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α gene in cervical squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cervical carcinoma is the second most common cancer and is an important cause of death in women worldwide. CCAAT/enhancer binding proteins (C/EBPs) are a family of transcription factors that regulate cellular differentiation and proliferation in a variety of tissues. However, the role of C/EBPα gene in cervical cancer is still not clear.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated the expression of C/EBPα gene in cervical squamous cell carcinoma. C/EBPα mRNA level was measured by real-time quantitative RT-PCR in cervical cancer tissues and their adjacent normal tissues. C/EBPα protein level was measured by immunohistochemistry. Methylation in the promoter of C/EBPα gene was detected by MALDI TOF MassARRAY. We transfected HeLa cells with C/EBPα expression vector. C/EBPα expression in HeLa cells was examined and HeLa cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay and HeLa cells migration was analyzed by matrigel-coated transwell migration assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant difference in C/EBPα protein expression between chronic cervicitis and cervical carcinoma (P < 0.001). CEBPα mRNA level was significantly lower in cervical cancer tissues than in normal cervical tissues (P < 0.01). Methylation of the promoter of CEBPα gene in CpG 5, CpG-14.15, CpG-19.20 were significantly higher in cervical cancer than in normal cervical tissues (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.05, respectively). CEBPα pcDNA3.1 construct transfected into HeLa cells inhibited cell proliferation and decreased cell migration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that reduced C/EBPα gene expression may play a role in the development of cervical squamous cell carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Disease and Education Ministry Key Laboratory, Shihezi, Xinjiang 832002, China. panteacher89@sina.com.
authors.forename: Zemin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Weinan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Jinli
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Dongmei
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiaoqing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Hu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Shen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.forename: Renfu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shao
mesh_terms: D022763:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-alpha / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002465:Cell Movement; D002470:Cell Survival; D019175:DNA Methylation; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D022763:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-alpha; D012333:RNA, Messenger