Methylation Analysis of the BMPR2 Gene Promoter Region in Patients With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Abstract

Introduction: Pulmonary arterial hypertension is characterizated by obstruction of the pulmonary arteries. The gene mainly related to pathology is the bone morphogenetic protein receptor type II (BMPR2). The aim of this study was to analyze the methylation pattern of the BMPR2 promoter region in patients and controls.

Methods: We used Methyl Primer Express(®) v.1.0 and MatInspector softwares to analyze this region. Genomic DNA obtained from the peripheral blood of patients and controls was modified with sodium bisulphite. Methylation was analyzed using methylation-specific PCR. DNA treated with CpG methyltransferase was used as a positive control for methylation and H1299 cell culture DNA was used as positive control for gene expression.

Results: We identified a CpG island, which may have been methylated, in the BMPR2 promoter region, in addition to NIT-2 (global-acting regulatory protein), sex-determining region Y) and heat shock factor transcription factor binding sites. We found no evidence of methylation in patients and controls. No methylated CpG sites were identified in H1299 cells expressing the BMPR2 gene.

Conclusions: The BMPR2 promoter region is the most suitable for study because of the high number of transcription factor binding sites that could alter gene function. No evidence of methylation was detected in this region in patients and controls.

Keywords: BMPR2; CpG islands; Factores de transcripción; Hipertensión arterial pulmonar; Islas CpG; Methylation; Metilación; Pulmonary arterial hypertension; Transcription factors binding sites.