Methylation changes in promoter and enhancer regions of the WT1 gene in Wilms' tumours

Although the WT1 gene has been implicated in the aetiology of Wilms' tumour , mutations in WT1 are found only in minority of the tumours. DNA methylati on of regulatory elements represents another possibility of modulation of g ene expression. We studied methylation in the promoter and enhancer regions of the WT1 gene in 34 Wilms' tumour patients by the polymerase chain react ion on HpaII-digested DNA and by the bisulphite method. No methylation was detected in the promoter region in either tumour or normal kidney or blood DNA samples. In contrast, a HpaII site in the enhancer region was at least partially methylated in normal kidney and blood DNA samples and in about on e-third of the tumours, while the majority of rumours showed no methylation . The differential methylation in the enhancer region of the WT1 gene may i ndicate that methylation of this element can play a role in the regulation of this gene. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.