Experimental Research On The Relevance Between Low Methylation Level Of Bcl-2 Gene And High Expression In Articular Chondrocytes Of Osteoarthritis Patients

Objectives To investigate the role of B-cell lymphonma gene 2 (Bcl-2) gene promoter methylation in the occurrence and development of osteoarthritis (OA).Methods General DNA were dealed with Sodium Bisulfite method. The methylation of Bcl-2 promoter was detected by Methylation-specific PCR (MSP). Bcl-2 protein expression in joint cartilage cells were detected by Immunohistochemical method.35 OA patients and 14 control patients were recruited from the in-patient of the second Xiangya hospital of Central South University according to the fixed standard..The results were analyzed by Pearson Chi-Square Tests and Spearman correlation analysis of SPSS 17.0 statistic analysis software.Results1. The positive percent of Bcl-2 promoter methylation in OA patients and healthy persons were 40.0% and 71.4% respectively, there was significantly different between the two groups(X2=3.953, P=0.047).2. Bcl-2 protein was not expressed in joint cartilage cells in 65.7% OA group. However, Bcl-2 protein was expressed in joint cartilage cells in 35.7% control group. Using X2 test, the positive percent of Bcl-2 protein in OA patients was significantly higher than that in control group (X2=4.469, P=0.035). 3. Promoter methylation and protein expression level of Bcl-2 gene showed significantly negative correlation(rs=-0.443, P=0.008).ConclusionsBcl-2 promoter is hypomethylated in joint cartilage cells of OA patients compared to the control group. The hypomethylation of Bcl-2 promoter affect the protein expression of Bcl-2, which might take a role in the resistance of the development of OA.