Abstract:

Objective To assess the relationship of methylation status of CpG islands in the promoter region of insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7 （IGFBP7） gene with the expression of IGFBP7 gene in human melanoma cell lines and primary melanocytes. Methods Primary melanocytes from human foreskin tissue as well as 4 human melanoma cell lines, including A375, M14, SK-MEL-1 and MV3, were used in this study. Bisulfite sequencing PCR （BSP） was applied to detect the methylation status of 54 CpG sites in the 5′-flanking promoter region of IGFBP7 gene in all of the melanoma cell lines and primary melanocytes. Results As hierarchical cluster analysis showed, IGFBP7-positive cells （including A375, M14 and SK-MEL-1） differed significantly from IGFBP7-negative cells （including MV3 cells and primary melanocytes） in the methylation pattern of IGFBP7 gene promoter region. Conclusion The methylation status of CpG island in the promoter region of IGFBP7 gene may be associated with its expression in melanoma cell lines.

Key words: DNA methylation