MeCP2 and MBD2 expression in human neoplastic and non-neoplastic breast tissue and its association with oestrogen receptor status - PubMed (original) (raw)

MeCP2 and MBD2 expression in human neoplastic and non-neoplastic breast tissue and its association with oestrogen receptor status

H M Müller et al. Br J Cancer. 2003.

Abstract

This study analysed mRNA expression of two members of the methyl-CpG-binding protein family - MeCP2 and MBD2 - in human non-neoplastic (n=11) and neoplastic (n=57) breast tissue specimens using a quantitative real-time PCR method. We observed higher expression levels of MeCP2 mRNA in neoplastic tissues than in non-neoplastic tissues (P=0.001), whereas no significant differences for MBD2 were detected. When studying the relations between the most important clinicopathologic features of breast cancer and the mRNA expression level of both MBDs, we found that oestrogen receptor (OR)-positive breast cancer specimens contained higher levels of MeCP2 mRNA than did OR-negative cancers (P=0.005). Furthermore, we observed statistically significantly higher levels of MeCP2 in non-neoplastic tissues expressing high levels of OR as compared to those expressing low levels (P=0.017). Finally, using a linear regression model, we identified a statistically significant association between OR expression and MeCP2 mRNA expression in neoplastic and non-neoplastic breast tissue specimens (P=0.003). In conclusion, we were able to demonstrate for the first time that there exists a strong association between OR status and MeCP2 mRNA expression. Furthermore, we speculate that MeCP2, regulated by OR, plays a key role in the differentiation processes in human breast tissues.

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Figures

Figure 1

Figure 1

Expression of MeCP2 mRNA in non-neoplastic (_n_=11) and neoplastic (_n_=57) breast tissue specimens. Expression levels were analysed using a quantitative real-time PCR method, as described in Materials and Methods. Expression levels were standardised using TBP expression. A strong correlation between the expression levels of MeCP2 and MBD2 mRNA was seen in both tissue types.

Figure 2

Figure 2

(A) Expression of MeCP2 mRNA in non-neoplastic (_n_=11) and neoplastic (_n_=57) breast tissue specimens. Expression levels were analysed using a quantitative real-time PCR method, as described in Materials and Methods. Expression levels were standardised using TBP expression. Outliers were excluded. (B) Expression of MBD2 mRNA in non-neoplastic (_n_=11) and neoplastic (_n_=57) breast tissue specimens. Outliers were excluded.

Figure 3

Figure 3

(A) Expression of MeCP2 mRNA in OR pos/neg neoplastic breast tissue specimens (_n_=57). Expression levels were analysed using a quantitative real-time PCR method, as described in Materials and Methods. Expression levels were standardised using TBP expression. Outliers were excluded. (B) Expression of MeCP2 mRNA in non-neoplastic (_n_=11) breast tissue specimens as a function of OR mRNA expression. Outliers were excluded.

Figure 4

Figure 4

Expression of MeCP2 mRNA in grade I (_n_=25) and grade III (_n_=10) breast cancer lesions. Expression levels were analysed using a quantitative real-time PCR method, as described in Materials and Methods. Expression levels were standardised using TBP expression. Outliers were excluded.

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