The Association Between Breast Cancer and Blood-Based Methylation of CD160, ISYNA1 and RAD51B in the Chinese Population

Abstract

Recent studies have identified DNA methylation signatures in the white blood cells as potential biomarkers for breast cancer (BC) in the European population. Here, we investigated the association between BC and blood-based methylation of cluster of differentiation 160 (CD160), inositol-3-phosphate synthase 1 (ISYNA1) and RAD51 paralog B (RAD51B) genes in the Chinese population. Peripheral blood samples were collected from two independent case-control studies with a total of 272 sporadic early-stage BC cases (76.5% at stage I&II) and 272 cancer-free female controls. Mass spectrometry was applied to quantitatively measure the levels of DNA methylation. The logistic regression and non-parametric tests were used for the statistical analyses. In contrast to the protective effects reported in European women, we reported the blood-based hypomethylation in CD160, ISYNA1 and RAD51B as risk factors for BC in the Chinese population (CD160_CpG_3, CD160_CpG_4/cg20975414, ISYNA1_CpG_2, RAD51B_CpG_3 and RAD51B_CpG_4; odds ratios (ORs) per -10% methylation ranging from 1.08 to 1.67, p < 0.05 for all). Moreover, hypomethylation of CD160, ISYNA1 and RAD51B was significantly correlated with age, BC subtypes including estrogen receptor (ER)-negative BC tumors, triple negative tumors, BC cases with larger size, advanced stages and more lymph node involvement. Our results supported the report in European women that BC is associated with altered methylation of CD160, ISYNA1 and RAD51B in the peripheral blood, although the effects are opposite in the Chinese population. The difference between the two populations may be due to variant genetic background or life styles, implicating that the validations of epigenetic biomarkers in variant ethnic groups are warranted.

CD160 receptor in CLL: Current state and future avenues

“…However, to understand the complete mechanism underlying CD160-mediated anti-apoptotic effects, further investigation is needed. Additionally, a recent study demonstrated that CD160 hypomethylation in blood cells was correlated with breast cancer in a Chinese population ( 16 ). Therefore, further studies should be conducted to demonstrate the mechanisms regulating CD160 expression in both CLL B cells and the neighboring cells that reside in the microenvironment (e.g., T cells and NK cells) and whether this expression is mediated by genetic or epigenetic alterations.…”

“…Thus, CD160 is involved in antitumor immunity ( 3 ) and protection during chronic infections ( 8 , 9 ). In general, CD160 has been reported to be involved in the development of some pathologies, including autoimmune diseases ( 10 ), inflammatory diseases ( 11 ), atherosclerosis ( 12 ), retinal vascular diseases ( 7 ), chronic viral infections ( 8 , 13 – 15 ), and cancer ( 16 – 18 ).…”