ER, SOCS1, p15, E-cadherin and RARB are more Likely to be Members of the Methylator Phenotype of Adult and Childhood AML and Their Methylation is Primarly Regulated by an Overexpression of DNMT 3A

Abstract

<strong>Objectives</strong>: The hypermethylator phenotype is used as a term for both acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and other tumors. We analyzed the methylation statuses of ten genes (DAP-kinase, SOCS1, ER, p15, Ecadherin, RARβ, p16, GSTP1, HIC1 and p73) and correlated them with the expression of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs). <strong>Material and Method</strong>: We analyzed the methylation profiles using methylation specific PCR and COBRA and the expression of DNMTs (DNMT 1, 3A and 3B) by quantitative RT-PCR in 25 pediatric and 25 adult AML samples. <strong>Results</strong>: The ER, SOCS1, p15, E cadherin, and RARB genes methylated together significantly in the same patients and members of the methylator phenotype. <strong>Conclusion</strong>: Our study demonstrated that the gene DNMT3A was dramatically upregulated and significantly correlated with the methylator phenotype.