Effects of the demethylating agent, 5-azacytidine, on expression of the kallikrein-kinin genes in carcinoma cells of the lung and pleura.

Effects of the demethylating agent, 5-azacytidine, on expression of the kallikrein-kinin genes in carcinoma cells of the lung and pleura. Patholog Res Int. 2011;2011:167046 Authors: Wong J, Sia YY, Misso NL, Aggarwal S, Ng A, Bhoola KD Abstract Tissue kallikrein (KLK1) and plasma kallikrein (KLKB1) may regulate the growth and proliferation of tumours of the lung and pleura, through the generation of kinin peptides that signal through the kinin B(1) (BDKRB1) and B(2) (BDKRB2) receptors. The development and progression of cancer results from genetic mutations, as well as epigenetic changes that include methylation of DNA at CpG islands. The aim of this study was to assess whether expression of the kallikrein-kinin genes in lung cancer and mesothelioma cells is regulated by DNA methylation. Quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR and immunocytochemistry showed differences in the basal expression of the kallikrein-kinin genes and proteins in lung carcinoma and mesothelioma cells, compared with non-malignant lung epithelial and mesothelial cells, respectively. Following treatment with the demethylating agent, 5-azacytidine (5-AZA), KLKB1 mRNA expression was consistently increased in both lung carcinoma and mesothelioma cells, whereas KLK1, BDKRB1 and BDKRB2 mRNA expression was decreased or unchanged. Increased expression of KLKB1 after 5-AZA treatment suggests it may function as a tumour suppressor gene in cancers of the lung and pleura. S...
Source: Pathology Research International - Category: Pathology Tags: Patholog Res Int Source Type: research