Analysis of polymorphismsfrequency of IL28B and IL28R1 genes and profile of SOCS1 methylation in patients affected by meningioma

Abstract

Meningiomas are the most common tumors of the central nervous system, despite being benign and grow slowly, they frequently recur after suffering removal. They are classified according to the cells involved and their rate of malignancy. The role of the immune system in preventing the emergence and progression of tumors has been the subject of many studies in the field of tumor immunology. Interferons (IFNs) were originally associated with antiviral response, however, subsequent studies revealed the involvement of these cytokines in the regulation of cell growth and their immunomodulatory effect. Interleukin 28B (IL28B), a type III IFNs family member, seems to be involved in antiviral and antitumor immune response. By binding to specific transmembrane receptors (IL28R1, IL10R2) acts increasing MHC I expression through tumor cells or virus infected, supporting recognition by T CD8+ lymphocytes, providing greater NK cells cytotoxicity and mediating apoptosis. Proteins called suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) help controlling possible excesses cytokines actions, such as the encoding by the SOCS1 gene. Abnormal expression of these proteins has been regarded as referring to tumorigenesis in different tissues. The mechanism involved in this gene silencing is hypermethylation of the promoter region of the transcript. In this context, in a pathbreaking initiative, the objective of this study is to determine the frequency of genetic polymorphisms of both IL28B and IL28R1 and hypermethylation in SOCS1, associating both clinical and epidemiological characteristics of these patients.