Investigating the multifaceted cooperation of autophagy, PI3K/AKT signaling pathways, and INPP4B gene in de novo acute myeloid leukemia patients.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has been the most prevalent form of acute leukemia among adults, and it has been associated with poor survival rates over the last four decades. Understanding the processes involved in leukemogenesis, particularly autophagy and signaling pathways, can provide critical insights into their roles in disease development, risk assessment, and potential therapeutic interventions. This study investigated gene expression changes, focusing on MAP1LC3B and BECN1, related to autophagy, as well as PI3KCA and AKT1 in the PI3K-AKT pathway, and INPP4B, which regulates this signaling cascade. METHODS: We collected blood samples from 21 AML patients and 9 healthy volunteers. Gene expression was analyzed through qPCR following RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis. Statistical analysis encompassed t-tests, ANOVA, and correlation coefficients. RESULTS: AML patients exhibited significantly increased MAP1LC3B gene expression (****P < 0.0001; fold change = 11.9) and significantly reduced levels of INPP4B (****P < 0.0001; fold change = 0.026), AKT1 (*P < 0.05; fold change = 0.59), and PI3KCA (****P < 0.0001; fold change = 0.16) compared to healthy controls. However, BECN1 gene expression did not significantly differ between the two groups. Additionally, noteworthy correlations were observed between INPP4B and BECN1 (r = 0.57; P = 0.006) and BECN1 and PI3KCA (r = 0.61; P = 0.003) in AML patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights variations in leukemogenesis pathways, exemplified by increased MAP1LC3B expression and diminished expression of regulatory genes in specific AML cases. These findings contribute to our comprehension of the molecular mechanisms underlying AML and may inform future diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.