Epigenetic mechanisms underlying the dynamic expression of cancer-testis genes, PAGE2, -2B and SPANX-B, during mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition.

ABSTRACT: Cancer-testis (CT) genes are expressed in various cancers but not in normal tissues other than in cells of the germline. Although DNA demethylation of promoter-proximal CpGs of CT genes is linked to their expression in cancer, the mechanisms leading to demethylation are unknown. To elucidate such mechanisms we chose to study the Caco-2 colorectal cancer cell line during the course of its spontaneous differentiation in vitro, as we found CT genes, in particular PAGE2, -2B and SPANX-B, to be up-regulated during this process. Differentiation of these cells resulted in a mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) as evidenced by the gain of epithelial markers CDX2, Claudin-4 and E-cadherin, and a concomitant loss of mesenchymal markers Vimentin, Fibronectin-1 and Transgelin. PAGE2 and SPAN-X u

SUBMITTER: Yilmaz-Ozcan S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4168264 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature