ABSTRACT
This study was purposed to detect the expression of autophagy-related gene Beclin1 and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (MAPLC3) in bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNC) isolated from acute leukemia (AL) patients, and to explore its significance. Transmission electron microscopy and RT-PCR were used to detect the autophagy activity and the expression level of Beclin1 and MAPLC3 mRNA in BMMNC isolated from 27 AL patients with de novo, refractory or relapse AL and completely remission and 31 normal persons respectively. The results showed that autophagy activity and expression levels of Beclin1 and MAPLC3 mRNA in BMMNC from de novo AL patients were 80%, 0.68 ± 0.18, 0.24 ± 0.06, respectively; those in BMMNC from refractory or relapse AL patients were 100%, 0.79 ± 0.09, 0.30 ± 0.07, respectively; those in BMMNC from CR patients were 40%, 0.52 ± 0.15, 0.16 ± 0.04, respectively, while those in BMMNC from normal persons were 20%, 0.57 ± 0.13, 0.16 ± 0.05, respectively. The autophagic activity and expression levels of Beclin1 and MAPLC3 mRNA in de novo and refractory or relapse AL patients were higher than those in normal persons, with statistical significance (p < 0.05), while the comparison between CR patients and normal control showed no statistical difference (p > 0.05). It is concluded that autophagy activity and Beclin1 and MAPLC3 mRNA expression level of in de novo and refractory or relapse patients are higher than those in normal control, and the up-regulation of autophagy activity and expression of Beclin1 and MAPLC3 mRNA in refractory or relapse patients is especially significant. This may be related to the genesis, development and drug resistance of AL.