Alterations in the DNA methylation status and BMP-6 mRNA expression in HCC cell lines treated with 5′-aza-CdR.

<p>The BMP-6 locus became hypomethylated following 5′-aza-CdR treatment. In SMMC-7721 cells, the rate of DNA methylation prior to treatment was 95.38%, and this decreased to 32.31% after 3 days of treatment (A); In Hep3B cells, the rate of DNA methylation prior to treatment was 96.92%, and this decreased to 33.85% after 3 days of treatment (C). The levels of BMP-6 expression were upregulated following treatment with 5′-aza-CdR in SMMC-7721 cells (B) and Hep3B cells (D). The status of DNA methylation was evaluated with the BSP-based assay, and the expression level of BMP-6 was assessed by qRT-PCR. These results were analysed using the Student's <i>t</i>-test.