Cytosine 5-hydroxymethylation regulates VHL gene expression in renal clear cell carcinoma

Cytosine5-hyxymethylation (5hmC)which is a new epigenetic modification form plays important roles in the development and progression of tumors. In the present study, we observed that levels of 5hmC in the promoter region of Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) were lower in 97 samples of renal clear cell carcinoma tissue than in matched adjacent benign tissues. Moreover, when the cancer tissue samples were divided based on pathological staging, VHL expression and the level of 5hmC in the VHL promoter were both lower in pathological grade III tumors than in grades I or II. Correspondingly, expression of TET1, which catalyzes the formation of 5hmC, was also lower in grade III renal clear cell carcinomas than in grade I or II disease. These findings suggest the 5hmC level on VHL is a key determinant of the gene's expression and may participate in the occurrence and development of renal clear cell carcinoma. Thus the 5hmC level may be a useful indicator for early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of renal clear cell carcinoma.