Methylation analysis of the imprinted DLK1-GTL2 domain supports the random parental origin of the IGH-involving del(14q) in B-cell malignancies

Abstract

Leukemias/lymphomas with IGH-involving del(14q)¹ commonly lose the DLK1-GTL2 imprinted domain that comprises several paternally and  maternally expressed genes, including a cluster of microRNAs. Given that deletion of this region could lead to inactivation of a monoallelically expressed tumor suppressor gene, our study aimed at determination of the parental origin of del(14q/IGH). The designed allele-specific methylation study of the DLK1/GTL2 intergenic differentially methylated region allowed us to determine the parental origin of del(14q/IGH) in 9/20 analyzed cases. In six cases del(14q/IGH)  was of the paternal origin and in three cases of the maternal origin. These findings argue against the concept that a TSG/anti-oncomir located in the imprinted region is systematically inactivated by a targeted deletion of its functional allele.