RESUMO
The occurrence and severity of osteonecrosis in sickle cell anaemia (SCA) vary due to risk factors, including genetic modifiers. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), particularly BMP6, and the vitamin D receptor (VDR) play key roles in cartilage and bone metabolism, making them potential contributors to orthopaedic outcomes in SCA. Here, we evaluated the association of polymorphisms in BMP6 (rs3812163, rs270393 and rs449853) and VDR (FokI rs2228570 and Cdx2 rs11568820) genes with osteonecrosis risk in a Brazilian SCA cohort. A total of 177 unrelated SCA patients were selected. The AA genotype of BMP6 rs3812163 was independently associated with a lower osteonecrosis risk (p = 0.015; odds ratio (OR): 0.38; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.18-0.83) and with the long-term cumulative incidence of osteonecrosis (p = 0.029; hazard ratio: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.34-0.94). The VDR rs2228570 TT genotype was independently associated with a lower osteonecrosis risk (p = 0.039; OR: 0.14; 95% CI: 0.02-0.90). In summary, our results provide evidence that BMP6 rs3812163 and the VDR rs2228570 might be implicated in osteonecrosis pathophysiology in SCA and might help identify individuals at high risk.
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Anemia Falciforme , Osteonecrose , Humanos , Predisposição Genética para Doença , Polimorfismo de Nucleotídeo Único , Fatores de Risco , Osteonecrose/genética , Anemia Falciforme/complicações , Anemia Falciforme/genética , Genótipo , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Proteína Morfogenética Óssea 6/genética , Receptores de Calcitriol/genéticaRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: Stroke is a devastating clinical outcome that significantly contributes to the morbidity and mortality of sickle cell anemia (SCA) patients. Despite its advantages in predicting stroke risk, transcranial Doppler screening has limitations that restrict its applicability, highlighting the need for emerging prognostic tools. Thrombospondin-1 plays a crucial role in endothelial injury, platelet adhesion, and nitric oxide metabolism and may be implicated in stroke pathophysiology. Here, we aimed to evaluate the association of THBS1 genetic variations with the occurrence of stroke in SCA patients MATERIALS AND METHODS: By real-time PCR, 512 SCA patients were fully genotyped for THBS1 A-296G (rs1478605) polymorphism RESULTS: THBS1 GG genotype was associated with a lower risk for stroke occurrence [odds ratio (OR): 0.30; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.11-0.78; P = 0.011], although these findings were not consistent with multivariate logistic regression analysis (OR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.12 - 4.37; P = 0.736). In agreement, the cumulative incidence of stroke for patients with AG/AA genotypes was higher when compared to the GG genotype (P = 0.018). However, the association was not maintained in the multivariate proportional hazards model (hazard ratio: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.12-3.61; P = 0.643) CONCLUSIONS: In summary, the present study shows that the THBS1 A-296G (rs1478605) polymorphism may be a potential modifier for stroke in SCA.
Assuntos
Anemia Falciforme , Acidente Vascular Cerebral , Humanos , Anemia Falciforme/complicações , Anemia Falciforme/diagnóstico , Anemia Falciforme/epidemiologia , Brasil/epidemiologia , Genótipo , Polimorfismo Genético , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/diagnóstico , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/epidemiologia , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/genéticaRESUMO
Although a growing body of evidence demonstrates that altered mtDNA content (mtDNAc) has clinical implications in several types of solid tumours, its prognostic relevance in acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) patients remains largely unknown. Here, we show that patients with higher-than-normal mtDNAc had better outcomes regardless of tumour burden. These results were more evident in patients with low-risk of relapse. The multivariate Cox proportional hazard model demonstrated that high mtDNAc was independently associated with a decreased cumulative incidence of relapse. Altogether, our data highlights the possible role of mitochondrial metabolism in APL patients treated with ATRA.
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Leucemia Promielocítica Aguda , Humanos , Leucemia Promielocítica Aguda/tratamento farmacológico , Leucemia Promielocítica Aguda/genética , Tretinoína/uso terapêutico , DNA Mitocondrial/genética , Relevância Clínica , Recidiva Local de Neoplasia/tratamento farmacológico , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/uso terapêutico , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
Stathmin 1 (STMN1) is a microtubule-destabilizing protein highly expressed in hematological malignancies and involved in proliferation and differentiation. Although a previous study found that the PML-RARα fusion protein, which contributes to the pathophysiology of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), positively regulates STMN1 at the transcription and protein activity levels, little is known about the role of STMN1 in APL. In this study, we aimed to investigate the STMN1 expression levels and their associations with laboratory, clinical, and genomic data in APL patients. We also assessed the dynamics of STMN1 expression during myeloid cell differentiation and cell cycle progression, and the cellular effects of STMN1 silencing and pharmacological effects of microtubule-stabilizing drugs on APL cells. We found that STMN1 transcripts were significantly increased in samples from APL patients compared with those of healthy donors (all p < 0.05). However, this had no effect on clinical outcomes. STMN1 expression was associated with proliferation- and metabolism-related gene signatures in APL. Our data confirmed that STMN1 was highly expressed in early hematopoietic progenitors and reduced during cell differentiation, including the ATRA-induced granulocytic differentiation model. STMN1 phosphorylation was predominant in a pool of mitosis-enriched APL cells. In NB4 and NB4-R2 cells, STMN1 knockdown decreased autonomous cell growth (all p < 0.05) but did not impact ATRA-induced apoptosis and differentiation. Finally, treatment with paclitaxel (as a single agent or combined with ATRA) induced microtubule stabilization, resulting in mitotic catastrophe with repercussions for cell viability, even in ATRA-resistant APL cells. This study provides new insights into the STMN1 functions and microtubule dynamics in APL.
Assuntos
Leucemia Promielocítica Aguda , Diferenciação Celular , Proliferação de Células , Humanos , Leucemia Promielocítica Aguda/tratamento farmacológico , Leucemia Promielocítica Aguda/genética , Leucemia Promielocítica Aguda/patologia , Mitose , Proteínas de Fusão Oncogênica/genética , Paclitaxel , Estatmina/genéticaRESUMO
One of the physiologic mechanisms responsible to maintain asymmetric phospholipid distribution (in particular phosphatidylserine, PS) in human erythrocyte membranes is orchestrated by the balance between enzymes responsible for active transport of PS from the outer to the inner leaflet (ATP11C) and those whose counteracts these activities (PLSCR1). Using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and standard flow cytometry procedures, we hypothesized that the aberrant expression of either or both ATP11C and PLSCR1 transcripts may disrupt the PS internalization/externalization process and become clinically relevant for patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA). Overall, neither ATP11C/PLSCR1 ratio or ATP11C and PLSCR1 (if analyzed separately) had impact on risk to present acute or chronic organ damage in 178 patients with SCA. By collecting a new set of samples from SCA patients during a vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC, crisis state, 13 patients) and comparing with new samples of patients in steady state (15 patients), we noticed that patients in steady state exhibited mean values of ATP11C/PLSCR1 ratio significantly higher (mean value: 18.2, range, 0.3-53) than those who were in crisis (mean value: 3.7, range, 0.5-9) (P = 0.013). Most importantly, there was a strong inverse correlation between PS exposure and ATP11C/PLSCR1 ratio in sickle erythrocytes (Pearson correlation coefficient, r: - 0.78). Based on these findings, it is conceivable that the ATP11C/PLSCR1 ratio may switch from high to low during a VOC, although the underlying reasons require further investigations.
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Adenosina Trifosfatases/genética , Anemia Falciforme/genética , Proteínas de Membrana Transportadoras/genética , Proteínas de Transferência de Fosfolipídeos/genética , RNA Mensageiro/genética , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Criança , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Transcriptoma , Adulto JovemRESUMO
By combining the analysis of mutations with aberrant expression of genes previously related to poorer prognosis in both acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and acute myeloid leukemia, we arrived at an integrative score in APL (ISAPL) and demonstrated its relationship with clinical outcomes of patients treated with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in combination with anthracycline-based chemotherapy. Based on fms-like tyrosine kinase-3-internal tandem duplication mutational status; the ΔNp73/TAp73 expression ratio; and ID1, BAALC, ERG, and KMT2E gene expression levels, we modeled ISAPL in 159 patients (median ISAPL score, 3; range, 0-10). ISAPL modeling identified 2 distinct groups of patients, with significant differences in early mortality (P < .001), remission (P = .004), overall survival (P < .001), cumulative incidence of relapse (P = .028), disease-free survival (P = .03), and event-free survival (P < .001). These data were internally validated by using a bootstrap resampling procedure. At least for patients treated with ATRA and anthracycline-based chemotherapy, ISAPL modeling may identify those who need to be treated differently to maximize their chances for a cure.
Assuntos
Biomarcadores Tumorais/genética , Análise Mutacional de DNA , Perfilação da Expressão Gênica , Leucemia Promielocítica Aguda/diagnóstico , Leucemia Promielocítica Aguda/genética , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/uso terapêutico , Biomarcadores Farmacológicos/análise , Biomarcadores Tumorais/análise , Estudos de Coortes , Análise Mutacional de DNA/métodos , Feminino , Perfilação da Expressão Gênica/métodos , Regulação Leucêmica da Expressão Gênica/efeitos dos fármacos , Humanos , Leucemia Promielocítica Aguda/tratamento farmacológico , Leucemia Promielocítica Aguda/patologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Técnicas de Diagnóstico Molecular/métodos , Mutação , Prognóstico , Sequências de Repetição em Tandem/genética , Transcriptoma , Resultado do Tratamento , Tretinoína/administração & dosagem , Adulto Jovem , Tirosina Quinase 3 Semelhante a fms/genéticaRESUMO
The clinical and phenotypic heterogeneity of patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA) is influenced by environmental and genetic factors. Several genetic modifiers, such as the KLOTHO (KL) gene, have been associated with SCA clinical outcomes. The KL gene and its encoded proteins are implicated in important biological pathways, which affect the disease's pathophysiology, such as expression of adhesion molecules VCAM-1 and ICAM-1, oxidative stress, and nitric oxide biology. Here, we evaluated the clinical relevance of two polymorphisms found on the KL gene (rs685417 and rs211239) in 588 unrelated patients with SCA. Genotyping analyses were performed using the TaqMan system. The KL rs211239 was associated with increased number of vaso-occlusive crisis (VOCs) per year (P = 0.001), while KL rs685417 was associated with increased frequency of stroke (P = 0.034), priapism (P = 0.011), number of complications (P = 0.019), and with a lower incidence of priapism (P = 0.036). Additionally, the associations with VOCs, stroke, and priapism remained consistent in multivariate analyses (P < 0.05). Our data highlight the clinical importance of KL in SCA.
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Anemia Falciforme/complicações , Anemia Falciforme/genética , Glucuronidase/genética , Polimorfismo de Nucleotídeo Único , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Anemia Falciforme/diagnóstico , Criança , Feminino , Humanos , Proteínas Klotho , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Prognóstico , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/etiologia , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/genética , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Hyperbilirubinemia in patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA) as a result of enhanced erythrocyte destruction, lead to cholelithiasis development in a subset of patients. Evidence suggests that hyperbilirubinemia may be related to genetic variations, such as the UGT1A1 gene promoter polymorphism, which causes Gilbert syndrome (GS). Here, we aimed to determine the frequencies of UGT1A1 promoter alleles, alpha thalassemia, and ßS haplotypes and analyze their association with cholelithiasis and bilirubin levels. The UGT1A1 alleles, -3.7 kb alpha thalassemia deletion and ßS haplotypes were determined using DNA sequencing and PCR-based assays in 913 patients with SCA. The mean of total and unconjugated bilirubin and the frequency of cholelithiasis in GS patients were higher when compared to those without this condition, regardless of age (P < 0.05). Cumulative analysis demonstrated an early age-at-onset for cholelithiasis in GS genotypes (P < 0.05). Low fetal hemoglobin (HbF) levels and normal alpha thalassemia genotype were related to cholelithiasis development (P > 0.05). However, not cholelithiasis but total and unconjugated bilirubin levels were associated with ßS haplotype. These findings confirm in a large cohort that the UGT1A1 polymorphism influences cholelithiasis and hyperbilirubinemia in SCA. HbF and alpha thalassemia also appear as modulators for cholelithiasis risk.
Assuntos
Anemia Falciforme/sangue , Bilirrubina/sangue , Colelitíase/etiologia , Doença de Gilbert/sangue , Glucuronosiltransferase/fisiologia , Regiões Promotoras Genéticas/genética , Talassemia alfa/sangue , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Alelos , Anemia Falciforme/complicações , Anemia Falciforme/enzimologia , Anemia Falciforme/genética , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Colelitíase/sangue , Colelitíase/genética , Feminino , Hemoglobina Fetal/análise , Genótipo , Doença de Gilbert/enzimologia , Doença de Gilbert/genética , Glucuronosiltransferase/genética , Haplótipos/genética , Hemólise , Humanos , Hiperbilirrubinemia/enzimologia , Hiperbilirrubinemia/etiologia , Hiperbilirrubinemia/genética , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Adulto Jovem , Talassemia alfa/complicações , Talassemia alfa/enzimologia , Talassemia alfa/genéticaRESUMO
Sickle cell anemia (SCA) pathophysiology is characterized by the activation of sickle red blood cells, reticulocytes, leukocytes, platelets, and endothelial cells, and with the expression of several inflammatory molecules. Therefore, it is conceivable that variations in levels of proinflammatory cytokines may act as a signaling of differential clinical course in SCA. Here, we evaluated the clinical impact of proinflammatory cytokines interleukin 1-ß (IL-1ß), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and interleukin 8 (IL-8) in 79 patients with SCA, followed in a single reference center from northeastern Brazil. The main clinical/laboratory data were obtained from patient interview and medical records. The proinflammatory markers IL-1ß, IL-6, and IL-8 were evaluated by using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. According to levels of the proinflammatory markers, we observed that patients who had a higher frequency of VOC per year (P = 0.0236), acute chest syndrome (P = 0.01), leg ulcers (P = 0.0001), osteonecrosis (P = 0.0006), stroke (P = 0.0486), and priapism (P = 0.0347) had higher IL-6 levels compared with patients without these clinical complications. Furthermore, increased levels of IL-8 were found in patients who presented leg ulcers (P = 0.0184). No significant difference was found for IL-1ß levels (P > 0.05). In summary, the present study emphasizes the role of inflammation in SCA pathophysiology, reveals an association of IL-8 levels and leg ulcer occurrence, and indicates that IL-6 levels can be used as a useful predictor for poor outcomes in SCA.
Assuntos
Anemia Falciforme/sangue , Interleucina-6/sangue , Interleucina-8/sangue , Úlcera da Perna/sangue , Adulto , Anemia Falciforme/epidemiologia , Brasil , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Feminino , Seguimentos , Humanos , Interleucina-1beta/sangue , Úlcera da Perna/epidemiologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-IdadeRESUMO
Beta-thalassaemia (BT) is classified according to blood transfusion requirement as minor (BTMi), intermedia (BTI) and major (BTM). BTM is the most severe form, requiring regular transfusions while transfusion need is only occasional in BTI. Differential gene expression between patients has not been assessed so far. Here, we evaluated the global gene expression profiles during differentiation of human erythroid cells of two patients carrying the same mutation [CD39, (C â T)], though displaying different phenotypes (BTI and BTM). Considering the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the pathophysiology of thalassaemia, we focused on differentially expressed genes involved in metabolic pathways triggered by ROS, such as inflammation and apoptosis, and, from these, we selected the Apurinic/Apyrimidinic Endodeoxyribonuclease 1 (APEX1) and High Mobility Group Box1 (HMGB1) genes, whose role in BT is not well established. An in-depth expression analysis of transcriptional and protein levels in patients carrying a range of mutations associated with BT phenotypes indicated that APEX1 was increased in both BTI and BTM. Furthermore, higher amounts of HMGB1 was found in the plasma of BTI patients. Our findings suggest that these proteins have important roles in BT and could represent new targets for further studies aiming to improve the management of the disease.
Assuntos
DNA Liase (Sítios Apurínicos ou Apirimidínicos)/genética , Proteína HMGB1/genética , Estresse Oxidativo , Transdução de Sinais , Transcriptoma , Talassemia beta/genética , Talassemia beta/metabolismo , Adulto , Apoptose , Apirase/metabolismo , Biomarcadores , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Diferenciação Celular/genética , Biologia Computacional/métodos , DNA Liase (Sítios Apurínicos ou Apirimidínicos)/metabolismo , Células Eritroides/citologia , Células Eritroides/metabolismo , Feminino , Perfilação da Expressão Gênica , Regulação da Expressão Gênica , Redes Reguladoras de Genes , Proteína HMGB1/metabolismo , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Fenótipo , Espécies Reativas de Oxigênio/metabolismo , Talassemia beta/diagnósticoAssuntos
Leucemia Mieloide Aguda , Tioestreptona , Humanos , Leucócitos , Macrófagos , Morte CelularAssuntos
Biomarcadores Tumorais , DNA (Citosina-5-)-Metiltransferases/genética , Leucemia Mieloide Aguda/genética , Leucemia Mieloide Aguda/mortalidade , Proteínas Nucleares/genética , Tirosina Quinase 3 Semelhante a fms/genética , DNA Metiltransferase 3A , Feminino , Humanos , Leucemia Mieloide Aguda/diagnóstico , Masculino , NucleofosminaRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: The bone marrow (BM) microenvironment plays a significant role in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) genesis and there is evidence that BM mesenchymal stromal cells (BMMSCs) can support leukemia progenitor cell proliferation and survival and provide resistance to cytotoxic therapies. HYPOTHESIS AND METHOD: Nevertheless, currently unknown are the relevance of the spatial localization of AML cells relative to the BMMSCs and whether BMMSCs from patients with AML and healthy subjects have similar properties. To address these issues, we performed a differential gene expression analysis using RNA-sequencing data generated from healthy donors (HDs) and leukemic BMMSCs. RESULTS: The Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) revealed that leukemic BMMSCs were associated with the terms "positive regulation of cell cycle", "angiogenesis" and "signaling by the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)", whereas healthy donor (HD)-derived BMMSCs were associated with "programmed cell death in response to the reactive oxygen species (ROS)", "negative regulation of the cytochrome C from the mitochondria" and "interferon signaling". Next, we evaluated the mitochondrial superoxide production in AML cells in a co-culture layered model. The superoxide production was reduced in leukemic cells in close contact (adhered to the surface or beneath the cell layer) with BMMSCs, indicating lower oxidative stress. CONCLUSION: Taken together, our results suggest that AML-derived BMMSCs are transcriptionally rewired and can reduce the metabolic stress of leukemic cells.
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INTRODUCTION: The aberrant expression of the inhibitor of DNA binding (ID1) gene has been frequently associated with the leukemogenesis and prognostication acute myeloid leukemia (AML), although its clinical importance has never been investigated in patients treated outside well-controlled clinical trials. METHODS: Using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, we investigated the role of the ID1 expression in the clinical outcomes of non-selected patients with acute myeloid leukemia treated in a real-life setting. RESULTS: Overall, 128 patients were enrolled. Patients with high ID1 expression had a lower 3-year overall survival (OS) rate of 9%, with the 95% confidence interval (95%CI) at 3 to 20%, compared to patients with a low ID1 expression (22%, 95%CI: 11 - 34%) (p = 0.037), although these findings did not retain significance after adjustment (hazard ratio (HR): 1.5, 95%CI: 0.98 - 2.28; p = 0.057). The ID1 expression had no impact on post-induction outcomes (disease-free survival, p = 0.648; cumulative incidence of relapse, p = 0.584). CONCLUSIONS: Although we are aware thar our data are confronted with many variables that cannot be fully controlled, including drug unavailability, risk-adapted treatment, comorbidities and the time from diagnosis to treatment initiation, we are firm believers that such an initiative can provide more realistic data on understudied populations, in particular those from low- and middle-income countries.
RESUMO
It is increasingly becoming clear that cancers are a symbiosis of diverse cell types and tumor clones. Combined single-cell RNA sequencing, flow cytometry, and immunohistochemistry studies of the innate immune compartment in the bone marrow of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) reveal a shift toward a tumor-supportive M2-polarized macrophage landscape with an altered transcriptional program, with enhanced fatty acid oxidation and NAD+ generation. Functionally, these AML-associated macrophages display decreased phagocytic activity and intra-bone marrow coinjection of M2 macrophages together with leukemic blasts strongly enhances in vivo transformation potential. A 2-day in vitro exposure to M2 macrophages results in the accumulation of CALRlow leukemic blast cells, which are now protected against phagocytosis. Moreover, M2-exposed "trained" leukemic blasts display increased mitochondrial metabolism, in part mediated via mitochondrial transfer. Our study provides insight into the mechanisms by which the immune landscape contributes to aggressive leukemia development and provides alternatives for targeting strategies aimed at the tumor microenvironment.
Assuntos
Leucemia Mieloide Aguda , Humanos , Leucemia Mieloide Aguda/patologia , Macrófagos/patologia , Fagocitose , Imuno-Histoquímica , Microambiente TumoralRESUMO
Metabolic programs can differ substantially across genetically distinct subtypes of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). These programs are not static entities but can change swiftly as a consequence of extracellular changes or in response to pathway-inhibiting drugs. Here, we uncover that AML patients with FLT3 internal tandem duplications (FLT3-ITD+) are characterized by a high expression of succinate-CoA ligases and high activity of mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) complex II, thereby driving high mitochondrial respiration activity linked to the Krebs cycle. While inhibition of ETC complex II enhances apoptosis in FLT3-ITD+ AML, cells also quickly adapt by importing lactate from the extracellular microenvironment. 13C3-labelled lactate metabolic flux analyses reveal that AML cells use lactate as a fuel for mitochondrial respiration. Inhibition of lactate transport by blocking Monocarboxylic Acid Transporter 1 (MCT1) strongly enhances sensitivity to ETC complex II inhibition in vitro as well as in vivo. Our study highlights a metabolic adaptability of cancer cells that can be exploited therapeutically.
Assuntos
Ácido Láctico , Leucemia Mieloide Aguda , Apoptose , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Humanos , Leucemia Mieloide Aguda/genética , Leucemia Mieloide Aguda/metabolismo , Mutação , Oxirredutases , Microambiente Tumoral , Tirosina Quinase 3 Semelhante a fms/genéticaRESUMO
Several laboratory and clinical variables have been reported to be associated with the outcome of intensive chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), but only a few have been tested in the context of hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). This study aimed to identify genes whose expression of AML at diagnosis were associated with survival after HSCT. For this purpose, three publicly available adult AML cohorts (TCGA, BeatAML, and HOVON), whose patients were treated with intensive chemotherapy and then subjected to allogeneic or autologous HSCT, were included in this study. After whole transcriptome analysis, we identified ME1 as the only gene whose high expression was associated with shorter survival in patients subjected to HSCT. In addition, the inclusion of ME1 expression was able to improve the European LeukemiaNet risk stratification. Pathways related to lipid biosynthesis, mainly fatty acids, and cholesterol were positively correlated with ME1 expression. Furthermore, ME1 expression was associated with an M2 macrophage-enriched microenvironment, mature AML blasts hierarchy, and oxidative phosphorylation metabolism. Therefore, ME1 expression can be used as biomarker of poor response to HSCT in AML.