TY - JOUR
T1 - Epigenetic Changes in Basal Cell Carcinoma Affect SHH and WNT Signaling Components
AU - Brinkhuizen, Tjinta
AU - van den Hurk, Karin
AU - Winnepenninckx, Veronique J. L.
AU - de Hoon, Joep P.
AU - van Marion, Arienne M. W.
AU - Veeck, Juergen
AU - van Engeland, Manon
AU - van Steensel, Maurice A. M.
PY - 2012/12/17
Y1 - 2012/12/17
N2 - Background: The genetic background of Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) has been studied extensively, while its epigenetic makeup has received comparatively little attention. Epigenetic alterations such as promoter hypermethylation silence tumor suppressor genes (TSG) in several malignancies. Objective: We sought to analyze the promoter methylation status of ten putative (tumor suppressor) genes that are associated with Sonic Hedgehog (SHH), WNT signaling and (hair follicle) tumors in a large series of 112 BCC and 124 healthy control samples by methylation-specific PCR. Results: Gene promoters of SHH (P = 0.016), adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) (P = 0.003), secreted frizzled-related protein 5 (SFRP5) (P = 0.004) and Ras association domain family 1A (RASSF1A) (P = 0.023) showed significantly more methylation in BCC versus normal skin. mRNA levels of these four genes were reduced for APC and SFRP5 in BCC (n = 6) vs normal skin (n = 6). Down regulation of SHH, APC and RASSF1A could be confirmed on protein level as well (P <0.001 for all genes) by immunohistochemical staining. Increased canonical WNT activity was visualized by beta-catenin staining, showing nuclear beta-catenin in only 28/101 (27.7%) of BCC. Absence of nuclear beta-catenin in some samples may be due to high levels of membranous E-cadherin (in 94.1% of the samples). Conclusions: We provide evidence that promoter hypermethylation of key players within the SHH and WNT pathways is frequent in BCC, consistent with their known constitutive activation in BCC. Epigenetic gene silencing putatively contributes to BCC tumorigenesis, indicating new venues for treatment.
AB - Background: The genetic background of Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) has been studied extensively, while its epigenetic makeup has received comparatively little attention. Epigenetic alterations such as promoter hypermethylation silence tumor suppressor genes (TSG) in several malignancies. Objective: We sought to analyze the promoter methylation status of ten putative (tumor suppressor) genes that are associated with Sonic Hedgehog (SHH), WNT signaling and (hair follicle) tumors in a large series of 112 BCC and 124 healthy control samples by methylation-specific PCR. Results: Gene promoters of SHH (P = 0.016), adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) (P = 0.003), secreted frizzled-related protein 5 (SFRP5) (P = 0.004) and Ras association domain family 1A (RASSF1A) (P = 0.023) showed significantly more methylation in BCC versus normal skin. mRNA levels of these four genes were reduced for APC and SFRP5 in BCC (n = 6) vs normal skin (n = 6). Down regulation of SHH, APC and RASSF1A could be confirmed on protein level as well (P <0.001 for all genes) by immunohistochemical staining. Increased canonical WNT activity was visualized by beta-catenin staining, showing nuclear beta-catenin in only 28/101 (27.7%) of BCC. Absence of nuclear beta-catenin in some samples may be due to high levels of membranous E-cadherin (in 94.1% of the samples). Conclusions: We provide evidence that promoter hypermethylation of key players within the SHH and WNT pathways is frequent in BCC, consistent with their known constitutive activation in BCC. Epigenetic gene silencing putatively contributes to BCC tumorigenesis, indicating new venues for treatment.
U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0051710
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0051710
M3 - Article
C2 - 23284750
SN - 1932-6203
VL - 7
JO - PLOS ONE
JF - PLOS ONE
IS - 12
M1 - E51710
ER -