Methylations of DKK-2 Gene (Inhibitor of Wnt Signaling Pathway) in the Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma and normal Oral mucosa specimens

Background: Epigenetic mechanisms are essential for normal development and maintenance of tissue-specific gene expression patterns in mammals. Disruption ofepigenetic processes can lead to altered gene function and malignant cellular transformation .Epigenetic DNA methylations play an important role in oralcarcinogenesis. This process affects DKK genes family function and together with the epigenetic silencing; Wnt signaling pathway subjects to significant changes. Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the DNA methylation of DKK-2 (of Dickkopf family or inhibitors of Wnt signaling pathway) in the oral squamous cellcarcinomas with the healthy specimens. Materials and Methods: In this case-control trial, 31 OSCC specimens (60.81 mean age) without any previous treatments and 31 healthy human tissues (38.32 mean age) were selected and DNA extraction procedures were done on them. Nanodrop 1000 device was used to assess the DNA quality and quantity while DNA methylation of DKK-2 gene was determined using methylation specific PCR technique. The DNA methylation status of the gene was analyzed by Mann-whitney U test. Results: No case of DNA methylation of genes was observed in the OSCC specimens while in the control specimens; 7 (22.6%) cases of DKK-2 gene methylation was reported.In OSCC group; 5 (16.1%) cases showed limited methylations of DKK-2 gene. Not Significant differences was found regarding DKK-2 methylations (p=0.32). Thecorrelations between OSCC grade and DKK-2 gene methylation was not significant (r=0.151; p=0.24). Conclusions: This study suggests that DKK-2 methylation has no effects on theinactivation of this gene and the gene does not have suppressing effects on OSCC; however, more studies are required in this field.

کلیدواژه ها:

Dickkopf genes family ، Methylation ، Oral squamous cell carcinoma