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Abnormal methylation of the common PARK2 and PACRG promoter is associated with downregulation of gene expression in acute lymphoblastic leukemia and chronic myeloid leukemia
Author(s) -
Agirre Xabier,
RománGómez José,
Vázquez Iria,
JiménezVelasco Antonio,
Garate Leire,
MontielDuarte Cristina,
Artieda Paula,
Cordeu Lucia,
Lahortiga Idoya,
Calasanz María José,
Heiniger Anabel,
Torres Antonio,
Minna John D.,
Prósper Felipe
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.21584
Subject(s) - biology , cancer research , myeloid leukemia , dna methylation , methylation , microbiology and biotechnology , gene expression , gene , genetics
The PARK 2 gene, previously identified as a mutated target in patients with autosomal recessive juvenile parkinsonism (ARJP), has recently been found to be a candidate tumor suppressor gene in ovarian, breast, lung and hepatocellular carcinoma that maps to the third common fragile site (CFS) FRA6E. PARK 2 is linked to a novel described PACRG gene by a bidirectional promoter containing a defined CpG island in its common promoter region. We have studied the role of promoter hypermethylation in the regulation of PARK 2 and PACRG expression in different tumor cell lines and primary patient samples. Abnormal methylation of the common promoter of PARK 2 and PACRG was observed in 26% of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and 20% of patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in lymphoid blast crisis, but not in ovarian, breast, lung, neuroblastoma, astrocytoma or colon cancer cells. Abnormal methylation resulted in downregulation of PARK 2 and PACRG gene expression, while demethylation of ALL cells resulted in demethylation of the promoter and upregulation of PARK 2 and PACRG expression. By FISH, we demonstrated that a lack of PARK 2 and PACRG expression was due to biallelic hypermethylation and not to deletion of either PARK 2 or PACRG in ALL. In conclusion, our results demonstrate for the first time that the candidate tumor suppressor genes PARK 2 and PACRG are epigenetically regulated in human leukemia, suggesting that abnormal methylation and regulation of PARK 2 and PACRG may play a role in the pathogenesis and development of this hematological neoplasm. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.