Investigation of Genes Expression in Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Background: The pathogenicity of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is highly influenced by genetic alterations, such as chromosomal abnormalities. Additionally, aberrations in the mechanisms involved in gene expression have been identified to have a role in the development of AML. Contradictory evidence has been reported concerning the expression of the gene in AML patients. Additionally, investigation into the expression of the gene has yet to be explored in AML patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between the expression of the CEBPA and genes and AML in Iranian patients.

Methods: Using quantitative real-time PCR, the expression of the and genes was examined in the peripheral blood samples of 58 patients with de novo adult AML, and in 20 healthy controls.

Results: Overall, expression analysis showed a significant up-regulation in AML patients compared with healthy controls. Interestingly, a significant up-regulation of was detected in the male AML patients. Significant CEBPA over-expression was observed in M0 (=0.0001), M3 (= 0.012) and M4 (= 0.000) FAB subtypes. Our data has also demonstrated that CEBPA expression is up-regulated in favorable (= 0.006) and adverse (= 0.042) cytogenetic risk groups. In addition, the expression of was significantly increased in AML patients with an abnormal karyotype. Ectopic expression of was detected in seven of the AML patients.

Conclusion: Our study provides evidence for the up-regulation of and the ectopic expression of in AML patients, suggesting that these two genes may play an important role in the pathogenesis of AML. The role of and in AML patients should be further explored. This will offer potential opportunities for the development of novel treatment strategies.