Abstract:
Objective To investigate the relationship between cervical lesion development and histone acetylation that regulates RAR-β2 expression.
Methods Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis were performed to detect AcH3, RAR-β2, and involucrin expression in normal cervical tissues as well as in tissues with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) Ⅱ-Ⅲ and squamous cell cervical carcinoma. The relationship among histone acetylation level, RAR-β2 expression, and cervical lesion severity were analyzed.
Results AcH3, RAR-β2, and involucrin expression were reduced or absent with the progression of cervical lesions; significant differences were noted between the groups (P < 0.05). Histone acetylation level and RAR-β2 expression were positively correlated (r=0.797, P < 0.05). AcH3 and RAR-β2 expression, which were both associated with the cervical lesions, were negatively correlated r=-0.547(AcH3), r=-0.585(RAR-β2), P < 0.05.
Conclusion Histone acetylation modification is associated with the regulation of RAR-β2 expression. This process is also likely to participate in the carcinogenesis of cervical carcinoma.