Cross-platform array screening identifies COL1A2, THBS1, TNFRSF10D and UCHL1 as genes frequently silenced by methylation in melanoma

PLoS One. 2011;6(10):e26121. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0026121. Epub 2011 Oct 20.

Abstract

Epigenetic regulation of tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) has been shown to play a central role in melanomagenesis. By integrating gene expression and methylation array analysis we identified novel candidate genes frequently methylated in melanoma. We validated the methylation status of the most promising genes using highly sensitive Sequenom Epityper assays in a large panel of melanoma cell lines and resected melanomas, and compared the findings with those from cultured melanocytes. We found transcript levels of UCHL1, COL1A2, THBS1 and TNFRSF10D were inversely correlated with promoter methylation. For THBS1 and UCHL1 the effect of this methylation on expression was confirmed at the protein level. Identification of these candidate TSGs and future research designed to understand how their silencing is related to melanoma development will increase our understanding of the etiology of this cancer and may provide tools for its early diagnosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Collagen Type I / genetics*
  • CpG Islands / genetics
  • DNA Methylation / genetics*
  • Gene Silencing*
  • Genes, Tumor Suppressor*
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Melanoma / genetics*
  • Melanoma / pathology*
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Skin Neoplasms / genetics
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology
  • Thrombospondin 1 / deficiency
  • Thrombospondin 1 / genetics
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Decoy Receptors / deficiency
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Decoy Receptors / genetics
  • Ubiquitin Thiolesterase / deficiency
  • Ubiquitin Thiolesterase / genetics

Substances

  • Collagen Type I
  • RNA, Messenger
  • TNFRSF10D protein, human
  • Thrombospondin 1
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Decoy Receptors
  • UCHL1 protein, human
  • Ubiquitin Thiolesterase