Hypermethylation-modulated downregulation of claudin-7 expression promotes the progression of colorectal carcinoma

Abstract

Objective: The expression of tight junction-related transmembrane protein claudin-7 (CLDN7) and its regulatory mechanism were investigated in colorectal carcinomas (CRCs).

Methods: Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction and treatment with the demethylating agent 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine were conducted to analyze the methylation status at the CLDN7 promoter region in the Colo320 CRC cell line. We used a total of 26 stage 0 CRCs with an adenoma component and 90 invasive CRCs (stage I-IV), as well as their corresponding lymph node metastases, in an immunohistochemical study.

Results: In Colo320 (CLDN7-negative) cells, hypermethylation at the CLDN7 promoter was detected and treatment with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine restored CLDN7 expression. In CRC tissues, decreased CLDN7 expression was detected in 62% of stage 0 CRCs and 80% of stage I-IV CRCs, compared with their adjacent adenoma lesions and nonneoplastic epithelia, which had a close correlation with the incidence of vessel infiltration and clinicopathologic stage. Hypermethylation at the CLDN7 promoter was detected in 20% of CRCs with low CLDN7 expression. However, CLDN7 expression tended to be re-expressed in their corresponding lymph node metastases.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that the CLDN7 gene silencing by promoter hypermethylation and the resultant reduction of CLDN7 expression may play an important role in the progression of CRCs.