Expression Analysis of Genes Involved in the RB/E2F Pathway in Astrocytic Tumors

PLoS One. 2015 Aug 28;10(8):e0137259. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0137259. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Astrocytic gliomas, which are derived from glial cells, are considered the most common primary neoplasias of the central nervous system (CNS) and are histologically classified as low grade (I and II) or high grade (III and IV). Recent studies have shown that astrocytoma formation is the result of the deregulation of several pathways, including the RB/E2F pathway, which is commonly deregulated in various human cancers via genetic or epigenetic mechanisms. On the basis of the assumption that the study of the mechanisms controlling the INK4/ARF locus can help elucidate the molecular pathogenesis of astrocytic tumors, identify diagnostic and prognostic markers, and help select appropriate clinical treatments, the present study aimed to evaluate and compare methylation patterns using bisulfite sequencing PCR and evaluate the gene expression profile using real-time PCR in the genes CDKN2A, CDKN2B, CDC6, Bmi-1, CCND1, and RB1 in astrocytic tumors. Our results indicate that all the evaluated genes are not methylated independent of the tumor grade. However, the real-time PCR results indicate that these genes undergo progressive deregulation as a function of the tumor grade. In addition, the genes CDKN2A, CDKN2B, and RB1 were underexpressed, whereas CDC6, Bmi-1, and CCND1 were overexpressed; the increase in gene expression was significantly associated with decreased patient survival. Therefore, we propose that the evaluation of the expression levels of the genes involved in the RB/E2F pathway can be used in the monitoring of patients with astrocytomas in clinical practice and for the prognostic indication of disease progression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Astrocytoma / genetics*
  • Astrocytoma / pathology
  • Brain Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • Cyclin D1 / genetics
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p15 / genetics
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 / genetics
  • DNA Methylation / genetics
  • E2F Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 / genetics
  • Prognosis
  • Retinoblastoma Protein / genetics*
  • Signal Transduction / genetics*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • BMI1 protein, human
  • CDC6 protein, human
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p15
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16
  • E2F Transcription Factors
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Retinoblastoma Protein
  • Cyclin D1
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 1

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (Capes), and by research funds from Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (483032/2010-7), Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA) and from Fundação Amazônia de Amparo a Estudos e Pesquisas do Pará (132/2010). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.