Background
Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) types is causally involved in the development of both squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and adenocarcinoma (AdCA) of the cervix [
1,
2]. Testing for hrHPV in cervical screening programs results in earlier detection of clinically relevant cervical lesions (high grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or cancer (CIN2+) than cytology [
3,
4]. This provides a higher reassurance of low cervical cancer risk in test negative women [
4,
5]. However, only a fraction of hrHPV positive women will have or develop CIN2+, arguing for the use of additive disease markers to distinguish the subgroup of women having a high likelihood of high-grade disease in need of further gynecologic examination.
Epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressor genes by DNA methylation in cervical (pre)cancers has been shown to provide disease biomarkers with great potential applicable to both clinician-collected cervical scrape samples and self-collected cervico-vaginal specimens [
6‐
9]. Methylation of CpG islands within promoter regions of genes and microRNAs such as CADM1, MAL, and hsa-miR-124-2, reflects mechanistically relevant events for cervical carcinogenesis [
8,
10,
11]. Until now, DNA methylation of many genes has been analyzed, often by quantitative methylation-specific PCR (qMSP), on tissue and/or cervical scrape samples (reviewed by Wentzensen et al. [
12]). Recent studies indicate that most optimal sensitivity rates for CIN2+ can only be obtained by testing for a combination of methylation markers [
13‐
16]. However, determining the methylation status of multiple methylation markers separately is time consuming and relatively large amounts of sample material are needed. Multiplexing allows for more methylation targets to be analyzed using a single aliquot of sample material with potential for reducing target-to-target differences and monitoring sample adequacy for PCR purpose by an internal reference gene, thereby saving material, time and costs and improving quality control.
Here, we describe the consecutive experimental steps to set up a multiplex qMSP for CADM1, MAL and hsa-miR-124-2 and the reference gene β-actin (ACTB) with equal analytical performance as the individual singleplex qMSP assays. Following analytical validation, a proof of concept analysis was performed on cervical scrapings. The findings provide a practical guide for qMSP design and demonstrate that multiplex qMSP can be used for high-throughput diagnostic analysis, without the risk of a decrease in assay performance.
Methods
Cell cultures
Primary human foreskin keratinocytes (EKs) and the cervical cancer cell line SiHa were cultured as described previously [
17].
Cervical scrapings
Cervical scrapings were obtained from the population-based cervical screening trial POBASCAM, registered as ISRCTN20781131 [
18]. We randomly selected 33 cervical scrapings of GP5+/6+−PCR hrHPV-positive women with normal cytology without evidence of CIN2+ up to the next screening round after 5 years (i.e., two had histologically CIN1, 31 had histologically no CIN) and 12 scrapings classified as mild dyskaryosis or worse of hrHPV-positive women with CIN3 (n=11) or SCC (n=1) diagnosed within 18 months of follow-up. This study followed the ethical guidelines of the Institutional Review Board of the VU University Medical Center.
DNA extraction, HPV typing and bisulfite modification
DNA was isolated from cervical scrapes using Nucleo-Spin 96 Tissue kit (Macherey-Nagel) and a Microlab Star robotic system (Hamilton) according to manufacturers' instructions. Genomic DNA from cell cultures was isolated with UltraPure™ Phenol:Chloroform:Isoamyl Alcohol (Invitrogen Life Science Ltd, Carlsbad, CA USA). HPV detection and genotyping was performed using the general primer GP5+/6+−PCR enzyme immunoassay, followed by reverse line blot analysis [
19]. Furthermore, genomic DNA from tissue specimens and cell lines (0.5 to 2 μg) were subjected to bisulfite treatment with the EZ DNA Methylation Kit™ (Zymo Research, Orange, CA, USA). Standard curves were generated by spiking methylated DNA from the SiHa cell line in unmethylated DNA from EKs in order to obtain a serial dilution of 50 ng to 0.25 ng methylated DNA in a total of 50 ng of DNA.
Quantitative MSP (qMSP) analysis
For the amplification reaction 2.5 μl bisulfite treated DNA (50 ng) was added to 10 μl amplification mix containing 1x Quantitect Probe mix (Qiagen, Leusden, The Netherlands), various primer concentrations (50 – 400 nM) and 200 nM of the hydrolysis probe. Sequences of primers and hydrolysis probes are available on request. Amplification and real-time measurement was performed in the 7500Fast ABI system (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA), using the following conditions; 15 min at 95°C followed by 40 cycles of 15 s at 95°C and 1 min at 60°C.
Multiplex qMSP analysis
Multiplex qMSP analysis was mainly done using QuantiTect Muliplex mix (Qiagen), unless specified otherwise. The other master mixes tested were EpiTect MethyLight mix (Qiagen), iQ Multiplex Powermix (Bio-Rad, Veenendaal, The Netherlands) or Genotyping Master Mix (Applied Biosystems). For the amplification reaction, 2.5 μl bisulfite treated DNA (50 ng) was added to 10 μl amplification mix containing 1x Multiplex mix, 400 nM of MAL and hsa-miR-124-2 primer, 200 nM of ACTB and CADM1 primer, and 200 nM hydrolysis probe of each target with the following conditions; 10 or 15 min at 95°C followed by 40 cycles of 15 s or 60 s at 94°C or 95°C and 60 s or 90 s at 60°C, depending on the buffer system used.
Data analysis
Methylation values were normalized to the reference gene ACTB using the comparative Cq method (2
-ΔCQ) [
20]. The amplification efficiencies were calculated by E=(10
(−1/Slope)-1)×100% for all serial dilutions [
21]. Correlations (R
2) of the serial dilutions and normalized ratios between the multiplex and singleplex qMSP of cervical scrapings were determined using Microsoft® Office Excel 2003 (SP3).
Discussion
Here, we describe the development of a multiplex qMSP analysis for the methylation markers CADM1, MAL and hsa-miR-124-2 and the reference gene ACTB. To obtain a multiplex qMSP, primers were adjusted to acquire identical annealing temperatures to enable similar amplification efficiencies for all targets. Multiplex TaqMan buffer systems were compared and primer concentrations were limited to allow efficient amplification of all targets. Analytical validation using a dilution series of methylated DNA spiked with unmethylated DNA showed an equal performance of the multiplex qMSP compared to the individual singleplex qMSPs. Moreover, the multiplex qMSP was found to be very robust, showing high reproducibility across 10 independent experiments. Further evaluation on cervical scrapings revealed a high correlation between the obtained normalized ratios of the singleplex qMSPs and the multiplex qMSP. Based on our experience obtained by optimizing a multiplex qMSP, a guideline is designed (Figure
1), describing the consecutive experimental steps for multiplex qMSP set up.
Major advantages of multiplexing are less hands-on time and less amounts of DNA required to determine the methylation status of multiple methylation markers as compared to running multiple singleplex analyses. Moreover, freeze-thawing of bisulfite modified DNA, which is inherent to repetitive singleplex analysis may degrade the single-stranded DNA, resulting in increased Cq values [
24]. Another advantage is the improved data quality, because the methylation marker is normalized to the reference gene present in the same reaction, thereby reducing the potential negative impact of for example pipetting errors when the reference gene is tested in a separate reaction. These features of multiplex qMSP are extremely beneficial for molecular diagnostics.
Both the EpiTect Methylight and QuantiTect Multiplex Mix buffer systems could be used for multiplex qMSP. Other TaqMan buffer systems, such as the Genotyping Master Mix and the iQ Multiplex Powermix are less favorable for multiplex analysis, due to high Cq values/low ΔRn or low linear phase amplifications. With this optimized multiplex qMSP, the normalized ratios obtained from cervical scrapings correlated strongly with those of the individual singleplex assays.
The development of a multiplex qMSP has been described before in a study on colorectal cancer [
25]. In this study the dyes, FAM, Hex CY5 and Texas Red were used, the latter of which prohibits the use of ROX as a passive reference to normalize for non-PCR-related fluctuations in fluorescence signal. Moreover, it is unknown whether the relatively high concentration of ACTB primers used, affected amplification of the other targets, as no primer limiting assays were described. Others have proposed the combination of a circularizing oligonucleotide probe, the so-called target-selection-padlock probes, with microarray technology as a high-throughput approach for DNA methylation detection [
26]. However, with this technique hundreds of genes are analyzed, while only several methylation markers are needed for diagnostic use. Another promising multiplex technique is the recently described quantitative allele-specific real-time target and signal amplification (QuARTS), which showed to be highly sensitive [
27]. Future studies will show its potential value in a diagnostic setting.
The analytical performance of the multiplex qMSP could potentially be further improved by the incorporation of Locked Nucleic Acids (LNAs) in primers and/or hydrolysis probes [
28], as has been described for singleplex MGMT [
29] and CADM1 [
30] qMSPs. In analogy to its use for improved DNA mutation analysis (as was reviewed by [
31]), peptide nucleic acid (PNA) hybridization probes, in which the sugar-phosphate backbone of DNA is replaced by a pseudopeptide and very stable heteroduplexes can be formed. This would prevent amplification of unmethylated DNA, thereby enhancing the analytical performance of qMSP. The impact of such modification on the clinical performance of methylation analysis warrants further evaluation.
The multiplex qMSP described here was performed on an ABI7500 Fast Real-Time PCR System, which supports multiplexing of five targets, when ROX is not present in the buffer system. In principle, even more methylation markers can be incorporated into the multiplex qMSP, when other devices will be used, such as the ViiA™ 7 Real-Time PCR System (Applied Biosystems) or the LightCycler 480 (Roche), which support multiplexing of six targets. We were however unable to develop a multiplex qMSP on the ABI7900HT Fast Real-Time PCR System, which may be related to the differences in detection systems.
The CADM1, MAL, hsa-miR-124-2 multiplex methylation assay described here may serve as a triage test for hrHPV-positive women in population-based screening. We recently demonstrated that combined CADM1 and MAL promoter methylation analysis on physician-taken cervical scrapings of hrHPV-positive women was at least equally discriminatory for high-grade CIN as cytology or cytology combined with HPV16/18 genotyping [
14]. Futhermore, these methylation markers are applicable to self-collected cervico-vaginal lavage specimens for colposcopy triage of hrHPV-positive women (Hesselink et. al, unpublished observations) and are currently tested prospectively [
32].
Conclusion
In summary, multiplex qMSP is a high-throughput, quantitative assay to analyze multiple methylation markers in a single reaction. It showed to be equally specific, sensitive and reproducible as its singleplex versions. Due to the material saving capacity, the multiplex qMSP may allow analysis of samples with limited methylated DNA content, such as bodily fluids, like urine, blood or sputum. Multiplex qMSP can be applied to cervical scrapes and self-collected specimens and used as a triage tool for detection of high-grade cervical lesions in hrHPV-positive women.
Competing interests
Dr. R.D.M. Steenbergen, Dr. D.A.M. Heideman, Prof. dr. P.J.F. Snijders and Prof. dr. C.J.L.M. Meijer have relationships with Self-screen BV, The Netherlands.
Authors’ contributions
SS developed and analytically validated the multiplex qMSP. LDS and ATH evaluated the multiplex qMSP on cervical scrapings. RDMS and PJFS designed the study and participated in data analysis and interpretation. SS drafted the original manuscript. RDMS, DAMH, PJFS and CJLMM critically revised the manuscript. All authors have read and approved of the final manuscript.