Gene expression profiling in two morphologically different uterine cervical carcinoma cell lines derived from a single donor using a human cancer cDNA array.

Purpose: To examine the differentially expressed cancer-related genes in two morphologically different uterine cervical carcinoma cell lines derived from the same patient by an Affymetrix Human Cancer G110 Array carrying 1700 cancer-associated genes. In addition, to investigate specific gene expression depending on histological type, we examined expression of the selected genes in a panel of established cervical carcinoma cell lines derived from cervical adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Experimental Design: Two distinct human uterine cervical carcinoma cell lines SKG-IIIa and SKG-IIIb derived from a single donor were screened using a cDNA microarray. The array results were additionally validated using semiquantitative RT-PCR. Expressions of the 10 selected genes were analyzed in the nine established cervical carcinoma cell lines using RT-PCR.

Results: The cDNA microarray analysis showed that 16 genes in SKG-IIIa were upregulated more than 10-fold compared to SKG-IIIb, and seven genes in SKG-IIIb were upregulated. Semiquantitative RT-PCR analysis of a subset of these differentially expressed genes gave results consistent with microarray findings. Among the 10 selected genes, insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3, inhibitor of apoptosis protein 1, and cadherin-13 were more frequently expressed in SCC cell lines. 1-8D gene of interferon-inducible genes, Sno oncogenes, and transforming growth factor-beta II receptor were expressed in both SCC and adenocarcinoma cell lines.

Conclusions: Our experimental data demonstrated that multiple genes are differentially expressed in uterine cervical carcinoma cell lines. It is suggested that these genes are involved with the differences in morphological characteristics and carcinogenesis of cervical carcinoma.