Frequent epigenetic inactivation of SFRP genes in hepatocellular carcinoma

Background. Activation of the Wnt signaling pathway is frequently observed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), though mutation of three of its components, CTNNB1, AXIN1, and AXIN2, is observed substantially less often. Methods. We examined the relationship between Wnt signaling and epigenetic alteration of secreted frizzled-related protein (SFRP) genes in HCC. Results. We frequently detected the active form of beta-catenin and accumulation of nuclear beta-catenin in liver cancer cell lines. We detected methylation of SFRP family genes in liver cancer cell lines (SFRP1, 9/12, 75%; SFRP2, 7/12, 58%; SFRP4, 3/12, 25%; SFRP5, 7/12, 58%) and primary HCCs (SFRP1, 9/19, 47%; SFRP2, 12/19, 63%; SFRP5, 8/19, 42 %), though methylation of SFRP4 was not found in primary HCCs. SFRP methylation also was detected in hepatitis B or C virus-associated chronic hepatitis (SFRP1, 6/37, 16%; SFRP2, 14/37, 38%; SFRP5, 5/37, 14%) and liver cirrhosis (SFRP1, 10/28,36%; SFRP2,9128,32%; SFRP5, 3/28, 11%), suggesting that methylation of these genes is an early event in liver carcinogenesis. Ectopic expression of SFRPs downregulated T-cell factor/lymphocyte enhancer factor (TCF/LEF) transcriptional activity in liver cancer cells, while overexpression of a P-catenin mutant and depletion of SFRP1 using siRNA synergistically upregulated TCF/LEF transcriptional activity. Conclusions. Our results confirm the frequent methylation and silencing of Wnt antagonist genes in HCC, and suggest that their loss of function contributes to activation of Wnt signaling during hepatocarcinogenesis.