ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the opioid binding protein/cell adhesion molecule-like (OPCML) methylation status at different stages of malignant transformation of human bronchial epithelial (16HBE) cells induced by Glycidyl Methacrylate (GMA) and to explore the effect of OPCML methylation in the process of malignant transformation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Cells were harvested at different stages (the 10th generation, the 20th generation and the 30th generation). To verify the Methylation chip result of OPCML methylation status in the process of malignant transformation, we detected it by methylation-specific-PCR (MSP); Real-time fluorescence Quantitative PCR (qPCR) were applied to measure the gene expression levels of OPCML at different transformed stage, and compared with the control groups (treated with DMSO).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Based on the result of methylation chip, the gene of OPCML methylation occurred in all stages, which was consistent to the result of MSP; qPCR showed that the levels of gene expression decreased in the 20th generation and 30th generation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Methylation status of OPCML gene promoter could be considered as a stable and specific biomarker in the transformation process.</p>