[Hsa-let-7b-5p Inhibits Proliferation of Human Leukemia THP-1 Cells via FTO/m6A/MYC Signaling Pathway].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the down-regulation effect of let-7b-5p on the expression of FTO in acute myeloid leukemia cell line THP-1 and inhibitory effect on THP-1 proliferation via m6A/MYC signaling pathway. METHODS: The acute myeloid leukemia cell line THP-1 and the normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) were selected as subjects. The expression of let-7b-5p and FTO mRNA in those cells was detected by qPCR, further the expression of FTO protein in those cells was detected by Western blot. And, the luciferase reporter gene assay was used to verify the targeting effect of let-7b-5p on FTO. Finally, THP-1 cells were transfected respectively with let-7b-5p mimic, and PBMNC with let-7b-5p inhibitor, there after the C-MYC mRNA m6A enrichment level in transfected cells was analyzed by dot blot, the expression levels of let-7b-5p, FTO and c-MYC were assayed by RT-PCR, the expressions of FTO and c-MYC protein were verified by Western blot, and the proliferation level of cells after transfection was detected by MTT assay. RESULTS: Compared with PBMNC, the expression of let-7b-5p in THP-1 significantly decreased, while the expression of FTO was significantly increased (P<0.05). After transfection with let-7b-5p mimic combined with FTO 3'-UTR, the luciferase activity of transfected THP-1 cells significantly decreased, but the luciferase activity significantly increased after transfection with mutant 3'-UTR, which was significantly different from the negative control group(blank vector) (P<0.05). Let-7b-5p inhibitor down-regulated c-MYC mRNA m6A enrichment, and then up-regulated the expression of FTO in transfected PBMNC cells, the effects of which were significant (P<0.05). However, let-7b-5p mimic up-regulated c-MYC mRNA m6A enrichment level and down-regulated the expression of FTO in the transfected THP-1 cells, and the cell proliferation rate was significantly lower than that in the negative control group (blank vector) (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Human acute myeloid leukemia cell line THP-1 low expresses the let-7b-5p, which regulates c-MYC expression through let-7b-5p-/FTO-/m6A axis and promotes the proliferation of leukemia cell line THP-1.

Relationship between epigenetic changes in Wnt antagonists and acute leukemia.

The present study was designed to investigate the relationship among epigenetic changes in Wnt antagonists, histone H4K20me1 and the expression of tumor-suppressor genes in acute leukemia (AL) to better understand the pathogenesis of leukemia. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to detect messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels of Wnt antagonists (Wnt5a, HDPR1, DKK1 and DKK3) in patients with AL and in normal controls; pyrophosphate sequencing was performed to detect the methylation status of the Wnt5a promoter; and western blotting was performed to detect the overall expression levels of Wnt5a protein and histone H4K20me1 in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and in normal controls. The relationship between Wnt5a protein expression and histone H4K20me1 was analyzed. Chromatin immunoprecipitation-qPCR (ChIP-qPCR) was performed to investigate the recruitment of H4K20me1 and SET8 to the Wnt5a promoter and coding regions. Our results demonstrated that the expression levels of Wnt antagonists were generally low in AML, but showed differential expression in acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). In most cases of AML, methylation of the Wnt5a promoter was observed and Wnt5a protein expression was low. In some cases of AML, the overall level of H4K20me1 protein was higher than that in normal controls. In addition, Wnt5a expression was positively correlated with H4K20me1 expression and was unrelated to the methylation status of its promoter. Moreover, H4K20me1 and SET8 were enriched in the Wnt5a promoter region and coding region. By contrast, Wnt5a expression was unrelated to H4K20me1 expression in normal controls. Moreover, we observed that the methylation of Wnt antagonists was often found in patients with AL, particularly those with AML, whereas the extent of methylation was variable in ALL patients. Wnt5a expression was positively correlated with the enrichment of H4K20me1 and SET8 at the Wnt5a promoter and coding regions. H4K20me1 increased Wnt5a expression by promoting transcription initiation and elongation.

Overexpression of microRNA-143 inhibits growth and induces apoptosis in human leukemia cells.

Microrna-143 (miR-143) has been suggested to be a tumor suppressor, yet its role in hematological tumors has not been determined. Thus, we aimed to explore the expression and function of miR-143 in leukemia cells. miR-143 expression was assessed in bone marrow samples from 63 leukemia patients and 15 healthy controls using q-PCR, and its correlation with DNMT3A expression was determined. In addition, after lentiviral-mediated miR-143 overexpression, K562 cell proliferation was evaluated using CCK-8 analysis; cell cycle progression and apoptosis were determined using flow cytometry. The expression of Bcl-2 and pro-caspase-3 and -9 was assessed by q-PCR and western blot analysis, respectively. Leukemia patients had significantly lower relative miR-143 expression than healthy controls (P=0.004), and the expression levels of miR143 and DNMTA3A were negatively correlated (r=-0.663, P=0.001). Overexpression of miR-143 decreased DNMT3A mRNA and protein expression, and significantly reduced K562 cell proliferation at 72 and 96 h (both P ≤ 0.018). In addition, reduced colony formation and cell cycle progression were observed upon miR-143 overexpression. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that the early apoptosis rate was higher in the miR-143 group than the rate in the NC group. Bcl-2 mRNA expression and pro-caspase-3 and -9 protein expression were reduced in the miR-143-expressing cells. These findings suggest that miR-143 plays an important role in leukemia cell proliferation and apoptosis, possibly through silencing of DNMT3A. Further studies are necessary to determine the prognostic value and therapeutic potential of targeting miR-143.

CpG island methylator phenotype and its relationship with prognosis in adult acute leukemia patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigated the relationship between CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) and prognosis in adults with acute leukemia. METHODS: Bone marrow samples from 53 acute myeloid leukemia and 50 acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients were collected. The methylation status of 18 tumor suppressor genes was determined using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Greater than 30% of acute leukemia patients had methylated p15, p16, CDH1, CDH13, RUNX3, sFRP1, ID4, and DLC-1 genes; methylation of ≥4 were defined as CIMP positive. Age, type of leukemia, white blood cell count, and CIMP status were significantly associated with recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) (P < 0.05). CIMP status was an independent prognostic factor for OS (hazard ratio: 2.07, 95% confidence interval: 1.03-4.15, P = 0.040). CIMP-negative patients had significantly improved RFS and OS (P < 0.05). p16 and DLC1 methylation was significantly associated with RFS and OS (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: CIMP may serve as an independent risk factor for evaluating the prognosis of patients with acute leukemia.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate and trichostatin A synergistically inhibit human lymphoma cell proliferation through epigenetic modification of p16INK4a.

DNA methylation and histone deacetylation play important roles in the occurrence and development of cancers by inactivating the expression of tumor suppressors, including p16(INK4a), a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor. The present study investigated the effect of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) alone or in combination with trichostatin A (TSA) on p16(INK4a) gene expression and growth in human malignant lymphoma CA46 cells. CA46 cell viability and cell cycle were analyzed; methylation of the p16(INK4a) gene was assessed by nested methylation-specific PCR (n-MSP). p16(INK4a )mRNA and protein expression was determined by real-time quantitative PCR and western blot analyses, respectively. Both EGCG and TSA alone inhibited CA46 cell proliferation; the combined treatment (6 µg/ml EGCG and 15 ng/ml TSA) significantly reduced CA46 cell proliferation from 24 to 96 h (all P<0.001). Cells treated with 24 µg/ml EGCG or the combination treatment (6 µg/ml EGCG and 15 ng/ml TSA) had lower proliferative indices when compared to the other groups. Co-treatment with EGCG and TSA decreased p16(INK4a) gene methylation, which coincided with increased p16(INK4a) mRNA and protein expression. Thus, EGCG and TSA synergistically reactivate p16(INK4a) gene expression in part through reducing promoter methylation, which may decrease CA46 cell proliferation.

[Expression of Hippo signaling pathway core element MST1 in acute leukemia patients and its significance].

This study was aimed to investigate the expression of Hippo signaling pathway core element MST1 gene in acute leukemia (AL) patients, and explore its relation with AL pathogenesis and prognosis. 50 newly diagnosed patients with AL, 33 normal people, 23 patients with AL in complete remission, 12 refractory or relapsed patients were tested for the expression of MST1 gene by real-time quantitative PCR, Western blot was used to further validate the level of MST1 protein expression. And combined with clinical data, prognostic factors of the patients were analyzed. The results indicated that compared with the normal people, the expression level of MST1 in newly diagnosed patients with AL significantly decreased (P < 0.05), but significantly increased in AL patients with complete remission (CR), the difference of expression was statistically significant before CR and after CR (P < 0.05). Compared with refractory or relapsed patients, the expression level of MST1 gene in newly diagnosed patients was not significantly different (P > 0.05). Besides, the expression level of MST1 between the patients with CR and the normal people was not significantly different (P > 0.05). It is concluded that the low expression of MST1 may be related with the pathogenesis and prognosis of AL.

[Differential expression of miR-143 in bone marrow cells between acute leukemia patients and normal people and its significance].

MicroRNA abnormality is closely related to the development of acute leukemia. This study was aimed to investigate the differential expression of miR-143 in bone marrow cells between patients with acute leukemia and normal people. Bone marrow cells from 50 AL patients and 20 normal people were collected respectively and the total RNA was isolated routinely. The quantitative real-time PCR (Q-PCR) method was used to detect the expression levels of miR-143 in these specimens. The results showed that compared with the normal people, the expression of miR-143 in AL patients was significantly decreased (p < 0.05), which significantly increased after complete remission; besides, the expression of miR-143 was negatively correlated with the expression of DNMT3A mRNA, a known target gene of miR-143. It is concluded that the expression of miR-143 in bone marrow cells of AL patients is down-regulated which may be related with the development of acute leukemia.

[Methylation status of IEX-1 gene promotor CpG island in malignant hematopoietic cell lines].

This study was to purposed to explore the methylation status changes of IEX-1 gene promoter CpG island and its relevance with occurrence of hematologic malignancies. The methylation status of IEX-1 gene promoter CpG island in 9 NB4, HL-60 U937, Raji, CA46, Jurkat, K562, CEM and Molt4 hematologic malignant cell lines was detected by using methylation-specific PCR, the methylation status of IEX-1 gene promoter CpG island in normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells treated by M. sssI enzyme and the methylation status of IEX-1 gene promoter CpG island in normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells untreated were used as positive and negative controls respectively. The results showed that the hypermethylation of IEX-1 gene promoter CpG islands was detected in NB4, Molt4 and Raji cell lines, as well as in normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells treated by M. sssl enzyme; the partial methylation status was found in CA46, CEM, U937, K562, HL-60 and Jurkat cell lines; the unmethylation status was observed in untreated normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells. It is concluded that the changes of methylation status of gene IEX-1 promoter CpG island correlates with hematologic malignancies to a certain extent.

[Mechanism of As(2)O(3) on hdpr1 gene demethylation in Jurkat cell line].

This study was purposed to investigate the effect of As(2)O(3) on the demethylation of anti-oncogene-hdpr1 gene of acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line Jurkat in vitro and its mechanism. The inhibitory effect of As(2)O(3) on the proliferation of Jurkat cells was assayed by CCK-8; the change of Jurkat cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry before and after using As(2)O(3); the effect of As(2)O(3) on the methylation model of hdpr1 gene was analyzed by methylation-specific PCR, and the effect of As(2)O(3) on the expression of hdpr1 mRNA was analyzed by semiquantitative RT-PCR. The results showed that the proliferation rate of Jurkat cells was decreased significantly after being treated with As(2)O(3), and in dose-and time-dependent manner; As(2)O(3) blocked Jurkat cell cycle in G(0)/G(1) phase in dose-dependent manner. As(2)O(3) could reverse hypermethylation of hdpr1 gene and induce its mRNA reexpression, and down-regulate the dnmt1, dnmt3a, dnmt3b mRNA expression level also in dose-dependent manner. It is concluded that the As(2)O(3) suppresses the proliferation of Jurkat cells and blocks cell cycle is G(0)/G(1), its possible mechanism may be down-regulating mRNA expression level of dnmt1, dnmt3a and dnmt3b, induce demethylation of hdpr1 gene from abnormal hypermethylation status and activates its reexpression.

[The establishment and evaluation of diagnostic accuracy of AllGlo(TM) probe-based techniques for invasive aspergillosis.].

OBJECTIVE: To establish and evaluate a diagnostic technique based on the AllGlo(TM) probe for the invasive aspergillosis. METHODS: With the self-designed AllGlo(TM) probes and primers and the standards, two standard curves of the real-time PCR based on AllGlo(TM) probes were established respectively for A. flavus and A. fumigatus, then its specificity, sensitivity and reproducibility were evaluated respectively. RESULTS: The findings indicated that the standard curve of A. flavus was Y = -3.003X + 36.825, and A.fumigatus' was Y = -3.052X + 38.016, and their interassay coefficient of variation respectively were 15.60% and 12.94%, suggesting a good reproducibility. The lowest spore concentration they could be detected was 10 CFU/ml, which equated to 100 - 1000 copies of internal transcribed spacer (ITS)2 genes, suggesting a good sensibility. They didn't have cross-positive reaction with other fungus, human genome and bacteria, which indicated a good specificity. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic technique based on the AllGlo(TM) probe for the invasive aspergillosis possessed a good sensitivity, good specificity and deadly accuracy.

[Methylation status of CpG islands in secreted frizzled-related protein gene promoter region of malignant hematopoietic cell lines].

To investigate the methylation status of CpG islands of the secreted frizzled-related protein (SFRP) gene promoter region in malignant hematopoietic cell lines, and to explore the possible relationship of CpG abnormal methylation status with pathogenic mechanism of hematologic malignancies. Methylation-specific PCR was used to detect the status of SFRP gene promoter region in nine malignant hematopoietic cell lines and peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy people. The results indicated that hypermethylation of 2 genes coding for SFRP1 and 2 were present in nine malignant hematopoietic cell lines, however, methylation and unmethylation of SFRP4 were both detected in CA46, HL60 and U937 cell lines, and SFRP5 in U266 as well. None of the normal mononuclear cells showed methylation of SFRP 1-5 genes. It is concluded that the hypermethylation of SFRP genes is related to the evolution of malignant hematopoiesis. Methylation of SFRP genes may serve as potential independent biomarkers for early detection of hematologic malignancies.

[Detection of APC gene promoter methylation in hematological malignant cell lines by nested-methylation specific polymerase chain reaction].

This study was aimed to investigate the efficiency of nested methylation specific polymerase chain reaction (nMS-PCR) for detecting the APC gene promoter methylation and to clarify the roles of methylation in genesis and development of hematologic malignancies, as well as to screen the hematologic malignant cell lines with hypermethylation of APC gene promoter to use as an ideal cell model for exploring the relationship between gen methylation and gene expression. The genome DNA of 10 cell lines modified with bisulfide was amplified and the methylation status of APC gene promoter was detected by using nMS-PCR. The results showed that the methylation of APC gene promoter was detected in Jurkat cells, while could not be detected in CA46, U266, Molt4, K562, HL-60, CEM, AKR, U937 and Raji cell lines. In conclusion, APC gene methylation in hematological malignant cell lines can be accurately detected by nMS-PCP method, which is simple method for detecting methylation status of various hematological malignant cell lines.