Methylation pattern of IFNG in periapical granulomas and radicular cysts.

INTRODUCTION

Interferon-γ plays an important role in the pathogenesis of periapical lesions, and the methylation of IFNG has been associated with transcriptional inactivation. The purpose of the present study was to investigate IFNG promoter methylation in association with gene transcription and protein levels in periapical granulomas and radicular cysts.

METHODS

Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction was used to assess the DNA methylation pattern of the IFNG gene in 16 periapical granulomas and 13 radicular cyst samples. The transcription levels of IFNG mRNA were verified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and protein expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

All the periapical lesion samples exhibited partial or total methylation of the IFNG gene. In addition, an increased methylation profile was found in radicular cysts compared with periapical granulomas. Increased IFNG mRNA expression was observed in the partially methylated periapical lesion samples relative to the samples that were completely methylated.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study provides the first evidence of the possible impact of IFNG methylation on IFNG transcription in periapical lesions.