title: Decreased LINE-1 methylation levels in aldosterone-producing adenoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Abnormal global DNA methylation levels are associated with many diseases. In this study, we examined long interspersed nuclear elements-1 (LINE-1) methylation as a biomarker for abnormal global DNA methylation and aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Tissues from 25 APA and 6 normal adrenal glands (NAs) were analyzed for LINE-1 methylation by real-time methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. The estimated LINE-1 methylation level was then tested for correlation with the clinicopathologic parameters of APA patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The methylation index (MI) level for LINE-1 was 0.91 in NA samples and 0.77 in APA samples (P < 0.001). For the APA samples, there were no statistical correlations between the MI level and various clinicopathologic parameters such as gender (P = 0.07).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LINE-1 methylation is significantly lower in APA samples than in NA samples. LINE-1 methylation is not correlated with the clinical characteristics of APA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Planned Parenthood Research Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoyu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jing
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jiachao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Leng
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Xiaomu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Zhiqiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D018246:Adrenocortical Adenoma / Q000235:genetics*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006929:Hyperaldosteronism / Q000235:genetics; D020084:Long Interspersed Nucleotide Elements / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
keywords: Long interspersed nuclear elements-1; aldosterone-producing adenoma; global DNA methylation