The role of DNA methylation at CTCF binding sites in the regulation of WT1 and NNAT in Wilms tumor

Introduction: Epigenetic alterations are suspected to play a critical role in the development and prognosis of embryonal tumors. Best examined examples for aberrant DNA methylation in Wilms tumor is loss of imprinting at the IGF2-H19 locus. Recently, it was discovered that hypermethylation of CTCF binding sites within the IGF2-H19 locus leads to inability of CTCF to insulate IGF2 from a downstream enhancer resulting in overexpression of IGF2. Methods: To determine whether the epigenetically mediated regulatory function of CTCF is restricted to the IGF2 locus or whether CTCF might affect other genes relevant for…