EPHA7, a new target gene for 6q deletion in T-cell lymphoblastic lymphomas

Carcinogenesis. 2012 Feb;33(2):452-8. doi: 10.1093/carcin/bgr271. Epub 2011 Nov 22.

Abstract

Cryptic deletions at chromosome 6q are common cytogenetic abnormalities in T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (T-LBL), but the target genes have not been formally identified. Our results build on detection of specific chromosomal losses in a mouse model of γ-radiation-induced T-LBLs and provide interesting clues for new putative susceptibility genes in a region orthologous to human 6q15-6q16.3. Among these, Epha7 emerges as a bona fide candidate tumor suppressor gene because it is inactivated in practically all the T-LBLs analyzed (100% in mouse and 95.23% in human). We provide evidence showing that Epha7 downregulation may occur, at least in part, by loss of heterozygosity (19.35% in mouse and 12.5% in human) or promoter hypermethylation (51.61% in mouse and 43.75% in human) or a combination of both mechanisms (12.90% in mouse and 6.25% in human). These results indicate that EPHA7 might be considered a new tumor suppressor gene for 6q deletions in T-LBLs. Notably, this gene is located in 6q16.1 proximal to GRIK2 and CASP8AP2, other candidate genes identified in this region. Thus, del6q seems to be a complex region where inactivation of multiple genes may cooperatively contribute to the onset of T-cell lymphomas.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Chromosome Deletion
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 4
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 6 / genetics
  • DNA Methylation
  • Down-Regulation
  • Female
  • Genes, Tumor Suppressor
  • GluK2 Kainate Receptor
  • Humans
  • Jurkat Cells
  • Leukemia, T-Cell / genetics*
  • Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell / genetics*
  • Loss of Heterozygosity
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / genetics*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Receptor, EphA7 / genetics*
  • Receptors, Kainic Acid / genetics
  • Sequence Deletion*

Substances

  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Casp8ap2 protein, mouse
  • Receptors, Kainic Acid
  • Receptor, EphA7

Supplementary concepts

  • Chromosome 6, monosomy 6q