Background: DNA methylation patterns are often changed in cancer cells. Many of the tumor inhibitor genes are silenced by methylation, such as CDKN2B, p73, and the suppressor of cytokine signaling in patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML). Secreted frizzled-related protein -4 and -5 (SFRP4, 5) are negative regulators of the Wnt signaling pathway. We aimed to evaluate the methylation status of SFRP4 and SFRP5 genes in patients with AML.
Methods: Blood samples were isolated from 60 patients with AML and 30 healthy controls. DNA was exploited, treated with sodium bisulfite, and tested utilizing methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction with specific primers for methylated and unmethylated sequences of the SFRP4 and SFRP5 genes.
Results: The frequency of unfit hypermethylation of SFRP4 and SFRP5 genes in patients with AML was characterized to be 50% (30/60) and 40% (24/60), respectively. Moreover, for all the subjects in the control group, methylation of SFRP4 and SFRP5 genes was negative. The spread of SFRP4 and SFRP5 promoter methylation in patients with AML was higher than the control population.
Conclusion: Hypermethylation was seen in SFRP4 and SFRP5 genes in patients with AML.