DNA Methylation of Multiple Genes in Gastric Cancer: Association with CpG Island Methylator Phenotype and Helicobocter pylori Infection

위암에서 유전자 메틸화와 CpG Island Methylator Phenotype 및 Helicobacter pylori균 감염과의 연관성

Purpose: Methylation of gene regulatory elements plays an important role in gene inactivation without genetic alteration. Gastric cancer is one of the tumors that exhibit a high frequency of CpG island hypermethylation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the occurrence of CpG island hypermethylation in gastric carcinoma in relation to H. pylori infection, CIMP and clincopathologic variables. Materials and Methods: We investigated the promoter methylation Status of six genes (hMLH1, p16, p14, COX-2, MGMT, E-cadherin) and CIMP in 36 gastric carcinoma tissues as well as in nontumor tissues. CIMP status was investigated by examining the methylation status of MINT 1, 2, 12, 25 and 31. The methylation status of the promoter was examined by methylation-specific PCR (MSP) and H. pylori infection was examined by histological diagnosis after staining with Warthin-Starry silver. Results: Among the 36 gastric carcinoma tissues, DNA hypermethylation was detected in the following frequencies: 14 (38.9%) for p14, 13 (36.1%) for p16, 8 (22.2%) for MGMT, 10 (27.8%) for COX-2, 21 (58.3%) for E-cadherin, and 6 (16.7%) for hMLH1. The frequencies for MINT1 and MINT25 hypermethylation were significantly higher in tumor tissues than in nontumor tissues. 16 (44.4%) of the 36 gastric carcinoma tissues were positive for the CIMP CIMP-H tumors were associated with older patients and larger tumor size than CIMP-L tumors. We found a significant association between the presence of the CIMP and hypermethylation of p16. Hypermethylation of p16 and MINT2 were significantly different when compared by age. MINT1 gene methylation was significantly associated with H. pylori infection (P=0.004). Conclusion: Our results suggest that aberrant hypermethylation of multiple tumor related genes (hMLH1, p16, p14, COX-2, MGMT, E-cadherin, MINT1, 2, 12, 25, 31) occurs frequently in gastric carcinoma tissues. The hypermethylation of MINT1 was significantly higher in the tumor tissues and was associated with H. pylori infection.

목적: 유전자 메틸화는 유전자의 서열에 영향을 주지 않으면서 유전자의 발현을 억제하고 세포분열 후 그대로 보존되는 후성적 변화이다. 위암조직과 정상위조직에서 hMLH1, p16, p14, COX-2, MGMT, E-cadherin 유전자와 MINT (MINT1, 2, 12, 25, 31)의 메틸화 상태를 검사하여 위암의 발생 과정에서의 작용과 CIMP 및 Helicobacter pylori균 감염을 포함한 임상병리학적인자와의 연관성을 알아보고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법: 위암과 정상위 신선 동결 조직 각각 36예를 대상으로 MSP (methylation-specific PCR)방법을 이용하여 메틸화 상태를 분석하였고 CIMP의 분석은 MINT1, MINT2, MINT12, MINT25, MINT31의 5개 marker를 대상으로 시행하였다. Helicobacter pylori균 감염여부는 Warthin-Starry silver 염색을 통하여 분류하였다. 결과: 위암 관련 유전자인 p14, p16, MGMT, COX-2, E-cadherin, hMLH1의 메틸화는 각각 14예(38.9%), 13예(36.1%), 8예(22.2%), 10예(27.8%), 21예(58.3%), 6예(16.7%)였다. MINT1과 MINT25의 메틸화는 위암조직에서 정상위조직에서보다 통계학적으로 유의하게 높게 관찰되었다. CIMP 양성률은 위암조직에서 44.4%로 높게 나타났으며 CIMP-H 위암은 환자의 연령과 종양크기와 연관이 있었다. CIMP 양성 위암은 p16 유전자의 메틸화와 연관이 있었고 p16 유전자의 메틸화는 조직학적으로 저분화, 미만형, 궤양형성하는 위암에서 낮게 나타났다. MINT1의 메틸화는 Helicobacter pylori균과 연관성이 있었다. 결론: 위암에서 hMLH1, p16, p14, COX-2, MGMT, E-cadherin, MINT (MINT1, 2, 12, 25, 31)의 불활성화에 DNA 메틸화가 작용함을 알 수 있었고, Helicobacter pylori균에 의한 위암발생에 MINT1의 메틸화가 연관이 있음을 알 수 있었다.