Open AccessInduction of MAGE Genes in Lymphoid Cells by the Demethylating Agent 5‐Aza‐2′‐deoxycytidine
Author(s) -
Shichijo Shigeki,
Yamada Akira,
Sagawa Kimitaka,
Iwamoto Osamu,
Sakata Motoko,
Nagai Kojiro,
Itoh Kyogo
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
japanese journal of cancer research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.035
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1349-7006
pISSN - 0910-5050
DOI - 10.1111/j.1349-7006.1996.tb00288.x
Subject(s) - demethylating agent , deoxycytidine , azacitidine , cytotoxic t cell , cancer research , decitabine , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , antigen , polyclonal antibodies , immunology , gene , dna methylation , cancer , gene expression , in vitro , genetics , gemcitabine
MAGE genes encoding tumor antigens recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes are appropriate target molecules for specific immunotherapy of cancer. We have investigated whether the demethylating agent 5‐aza‐2′‐deoxycytidine (DAC) induces MAGE‐1, ‐2, ‐3 , and ‐ 6 in normal and malignant lymphoid cells. DAC induced these MAGE genes in both PHA/interleukin‐2 (IL‐2)‐activated T cells from healthy donors and MAGE ‐negative T and B cell leukemias in most cases. It also induced MAGE‐1 in IL‐2‐dependent T cell clones and all MAGE genes tested in Epstein‐Barr virus‐transformed B cell lines. Expression of MAGE‐1 protein in the cells was confirmed by western blot analysis with anti‐MAGE‐1 polyclonal antibody. Therefore, demethylation is a potent stimulus to induce MAGE genes in both normal and malignant lymphoid cells.