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Epigenetically mediated downregulation of the differentiation‐promoting chaperon protein CRABP2 in astrocytic gliomas
Author(s) -
Campos Benito,
Warta Rolf,
Chaisaingmongkol Jittiporn,
Geiselhart Lea,
Popanda Odilia,
Hartmann Christian,
von Deimling Andreas,
Unterberg Andreas,
Plass Christoph,
Schmezer Peter,
HeroldMende Christel
Publication year - 2012
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.27446
Subject(s) - methylation , demethylating agent , glioma , biology , epigenetics , cpg site , gene silencing , downregulation and upregulation , cancer research , astrocytoma , phenotype , dna methylation , gene expression , gene , genetics
Impairment of endogenous differentiation pathways like retinoic acid (RA) signaling seems to be a central pathogenetic event in astrocytic gliomas. Among others, expression of the differentiation‐promoting RA chaperon protein cellular retinoic acid binding protein 2 (CRABP2) is extenuated in high‐grade gliomas. Against this background, we aimed at identifying potential pathomechanisms underlying reduced CRABP2 expression in these tumors. Using MassARRAY methylation analysis, we detected extensive CpG methylation upstream of the CRABP2 gene locus in a study sample comprising 100 astrocytic gliomas of WHO Grade II to IV. Compared to nontumorous control samples, tumors revealed increased CpG methylation and methylation levels were inversely correlated to CRABP2 mRNA expression. Substantiating our in situ findings, CRABP2 mRNA levels increased in glioma cell lines after exposure to the demethylating agent 5‐aza‐2′‐deoxycytidine. Finally, a distinct CpG methylation signature distinguished between primary glioblastoma on the one hand and the group of astrocytoma WHO II–III and secondary glioblastoma on the other hand. Altogether, our observations suggest that epigenetic silencing of CRABP2 might contribute to an immature phenotype in glioma cells.