ABSTRACT
Background and purpose:The MEG3 gene is a imprinted gene, whose loss may be associated with the pathogenesis and progression of several tumor types. This study was done to investigate the transcription of MEG3 mRNA in human mammary cancer cell line MCF7 and cell proliferation, in order to explore the effect of the methylation inhibitor, 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza-CdR) on MEG3 gene expression and proliferation in MCF7. Methods:MCF7 was treated with 5 ?mol/L 5-aza-CdR for 2, 4, 6 days, then the alteration of MEG3 gene expression was detected by RT-PCR and Northern blot technology and the proliferation difference in cell growth of MCF7 was observed by MTT. Results:After treated with 5-aza-CdR, the transcription of MEG3 mRNA in MCF7 was increased and the growth of MCF7 was reduced. MCF7 was treated with 5 ?mol/L 5-aza-CdR for 2, 4, 6 days, the inhibitory rates were (23.16?3.93), (49.39?2.38), (64.73?2.24), there were signifi cant differences between them. Conclusion:The growth of MCF7 was possibly inhibited by MEG3 gene, and the downregulation of MEG3 gene might result from the methylation, which was involved in the mammary cancer pathogenesis.