TY - JOUR AB - Methylation is a fundamental regulator of gene transcription. Long non-coding RNA maternally expressed 3 (MEG3) inhibits cell proliferation in various types of cancer. However, the molecular mechanisms of MEG3 methylation in the regulation of multiple myeloma (MM) are unknown. In the present study, MEG3 upregulation was negatively associated with the International Staging System (ISS) status of the bone marrow samples of 39 patients with MM. MEG3 overexpression in an MM cell line resulted in elevated p53 expression. Furthermore, the results of methylation‑specific PCR revealed that the abnormal methylation status of the MEG3 promoter region was present in eight of the 39 bone marrow samples collected. Treatment of the MM cell line with the DNA methylation inhibitor 5‑Aza‑2'‑deoxycytidine (5‑Aza‑CdR) resulted in tumor cell proliferation inhibition, apoptosis induction and G0/G1 cell cycle arrest. Furthermore, 5‑Aza‑CdR decreased aberrant hypermethylation of the MEG3 promoter and increased the expression of MEG3. However, 5‑Aza‑CdR exerted no effect on p53 expression. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to report that the demethylation reagent 5‑Aza‑CdR may serve as a therapeutic agent in MM by upregulating MEG3 expression. However, the mechanism of action was independent of p53 expression. AD - Department of Geriatric Medicine, Geriatric Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Province Geriatric Institute, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210000, P.R. China Department of Hematology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Province Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210000, P.R. China AU - Yu,Wenjun AU - Shi,Qinglin AU - Wu,Chao AU - Shen,Xuxing AU - Chen,Lijuan AU - Xu,Jiaren DA - 2020/07/01 DO - 10.3892/etm.2020.8723 EP - 645 IS - 1 JO - Exp Ther Med KW - long non‑coding RNA maternally expressed 3 promoter hypermethylation multiple myeloma PY - 2020 SN - 1792-0981 1792-1015 SP - 637 ST - Promoter hypermethylation influences the suppressive role of long non‑coding RNA MEG3 in the development of multiple myeloma T2 - Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine TI - Promoter hypermethylation influences the suppressive role of long non‑coding RNA MEG3 in the development of multiple myeloma UR - https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2020.8723 VL - 20 ER -