Zhang Yana, Wang Zhiqing, Zhang Jian, Farmer Benjamin, Lim Seah H
Cancer Research Program, Harrington Regional Medical Center, Amarillo, TX, USA.
Leuk Res. 2008 Dec;32(12):1889-94. doi: 10.1016/j.leukres.2008.03.036. Epub 2008 May 12.
Semenogelin (SEMG) I is a Cancer-Testis (CT) antigen that we have found to be expressed in myeloma cells. In this study, we set out to determine whether the expression of SEMG I could be upregulated pharmacologically. We found that SEMG I expression in myeloma cells can be upregulated by 5-azacytidine, IL-4 and IL-6. The mechanisms of SEMG I gene upregulation by 5-azacytidine is unclear since there was no correlation between the methylation of the single CpG dinucleotide at position -11 and SEMG I expression. Both IL-4 and IL-6 appeared to enhance SEMG I expression through increasing its promoter function.