Carcinogenesis, Teratogenesis & Mutagenesis ›› 2009, Vol. 21 ›› Issue (1): 27-029.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-616x.2009.01.007

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Genomic Methylation During Carcinogenesis of Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Wistar Rats

LIU Wen-bin, LIU Jin-yi, ZHOU Zi-yuan, ZHOU Yan-hong, AO Lin, CUI Zhi-hong, CAO Jia   

  1. Department of Hygienic Toxicology, Preventive Medicine College, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038,China
  • Received:2008-08-27 Revised:2008-10-24 Online:2009-01-30 Published:2009-01-30

Abstract: BACKGROUND AND AIM: To investigate thel changes of genomic methylation during lung carcinogenesis in Wistar rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Squamous cell carcinoma of lung was induced with 3-methylcholanthrene (MCA) and diethyinitrosamine (DEN) in iodized oil by left intra-bronchial instillation in 80 Wistar rats. The status of genomic methylation was evaluated by immunohistochemistry with anti 5-mc antibody, and the mean optical density and integrated optical density were measured by image analysis system. RESULTS: A total of 154 specimens of various phases during carcinogenesis were obtained: 25 hyperplasia, 27 squamous metaplasia, 33 dysplasia, 30 carcinoma in situ and 25 infiltrating carcinoma. The immunohistochemical scores of 5-mc were significantly decreased in hyperplasia, squamous metaplasia, dysplasia, carcinoma in situ and infiltrating carcinoma (P<0.01). 5-mc immunostaining was significantly higher in the basal cells than in the luminal cells in normal and carcinogenesis phase (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The decrease of genomic methylation level suggested that it may be an important epigenetic mechanism during carcinogenesis of lung squamous cell carcinoma in rats.

Key words: lung cancer, DNA methylation, anti 5-mc antibody, carcinogenesis