Genome-wide identification of aberrant alternative splicing and RNA-binding protein regulators in acute myeloid leukaemia which may contribute to immune microenvironment remodelling.

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is one of the most lethal cancers of the haematopoietic system with a poorly understood aetiology. Recent studies have shown that aberrant alternative splicing (AS) and a (RBP) regulators are highly associated with the pathogenesis of AML. This study presents an overview of the abnormal AS and differential expression of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) in AML and further highlights their close relation to the remodelling of the immune microenvironment in AML patients. An in-depth understanding of the regulatory mechanism underlying AML will contribute to the future development of strategies for the prevention, diagnosis and therapy of AML and thus improve the overall survival of patients with AML.

Role of heteroplasmic mutations in the mitochondrial genome and the ID4 gene promoter methylation region in the pathogenesis of chronic aplastic anemia in patients suffering from Kidney yin deficiency.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze changes in gene amplification in the mitochondrial genome and in the ID4 gene promoter methylation region in patients with chronic aplastic anemia (CAA) suffering from Kidney (Shen) yin deficiency or Kidney yang deficiency. METHODS: Bone marrow and oral epithelium samples were collected from CAA patients with Kidney yin deficiency or Kidney yang deficiency (20 cases). Bone marrow samples were collected from 20 healthy volunteers. The mitochondrial genome was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and PCR products were used for sequencing and analysis. RESULTS: Higher mutational rates were observed in the ND1-2, ND4-6, and CYTB genes in CAA patients suffering from Kidney yin deficiency. Moreover, the ID4 gene was unmethylated in bone marrow samples from healthy individuals, but was methylated in some CAA patients suffering from Kidney yin deficiency (positive rate, 60%) and Kidney yang deficiency (positive rate, 55%). CONCLUSIONS: These data supported that gene mutations can alter the expression of respiratory chain enzyme complexes in CAA patients, resulting in energy metabolism impairment and promoting the physiological and pathological processes of hematopoietic failure. Functional impairment of the mitochondrial respiration chain induced by gene mutation may be an important reason for hematopoietic failure in patients with CAA. This change is closely related to maternal inheritance and Kidney yin deficiency. Finally, these data supported the assertion that it is easy to treat disease in patients suffering from yang deficiency and difficult to treat disease in patients suffering from yin deficiency.

[Analysis of TERT and TIN2 Gene Expression in Patients with Acquired Aplastic Anemia and Their Correlation with Pathogenesis].

OBJECTIVE: To detect the mRNA expression levels of TERT and TIN2 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of acquired aplastic anemia(AAA) patients, and to explore their correlation with pathogenesis of acquired aplastic anemia. METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 40 cases of AAA including 33 cases of non-severe aplastic anemia(NSAA), 7 cases of severe aplastic anemia (SAA) and 20 subjects as control group were collected to detect mRNA expression of TERT and TIN2 by using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR), the correlation of TERT and TIN2 mRNA expression levels with classification of peripheral blood cells were analyzed. RESULTS: The expression levels of TERT and TIN2 mRNA in patients with AAA were lower significantly than those in control group (P<0.05), and the SAA (P<0.01). The expression levels of TERT and TIN2 mRNA in patients with SAA were all lower significantly than those in patients with NSAA (P<0.05). The expression levels of TIN2 mRNA in patients with NSAA were lower significantly than those in control group (P<0.01). There were no significant difference in the expression level of TERT mRNA between patients with NSAA and control group (P=0.082). There was significant correlation between the expression level of TERT mRNA and red blood cells count (r=0.437, P=0.029), and hemoglobin level (r=0.522, P=0.007). There was significant correlation between the expression levels of TIN2 mRNA and the lymphocyte percentage (r=-0.404, P=0.045). CONCLUSION: The expression level of TERT mRNA may be associated with the red blood cells and hemoglobin level. The expression level of TIN2 mRNA may be associated with the lymphocyte percentage.