Expression and Clinical Significance of Heat Shock Protein 90 in Multiple Myeloma Patients / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the expression of HSP90 in bone marrow samples of multiple myeloma (MM) patients and explore its clinical significance.@*METHODS@#Maxvision immunohistochemistry technique was used to detect the protein expression level of HSP90 76 MM patients and 29 normal healthy donors. The clinical characteristics of the patients were collected, and the correlation between the HSP90 expression and the clinical characteristics was analyzed.@*RESULTS@#The count of MM patients with positive HSP90 protein was significantly higher than that of normal healthy donor, and there were no significant correlation between HSP90 expression and age, sex, hemoglobin (Hb), creatinine (CREA), blood calcium, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), bone marrow plasma cell proportion and MM subtypes (P>0.05), but HSP90 expression was correlated with β@*CONCLUSION@#HSP90 protein was over-expressed in MM patients, and was correlated with β

Clinical Significance of Corrected Serum Calcium in 320 Patients with Multiple Myeloma / 中国实验血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the clinical significance of corrected serum calcium(CSCa) in patients with multiple myeloma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The serum calcium levels of 320 patients with initial multiple myeloma were measured and corrected by serum albumin and its levels measured simultaneously. The differences of serum calcium levels were analyzed before and after the correction by serum albumin.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was a significant difference between serum calcium and CSCa in MM patients (2.34±0.15 vs 2.6±0.17 mmol/L). The constituent ratio of patients with hypercalcemia was from 11.3% to 23.1% after correction, the MM patients with hypocalcemia was decreased from 42.8% to 7.8% after correction, and the patients with normal calcium level were increased. There was a significant difference between serum calcium level and CSCa in I, II, III stages of MM patients respectively(P<0.05). In the 320 patients, the incidence of anemia was 80%, renal failure was 20.9%, and myeloma bone disease was 68.8%. Calcium concentration in both anemia and renal insufficiency was higher than the normal group, and the difference was more significant after correction. In 220 cases of MM receiving chemotherapy, the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 15 months, and overall survival(OS) time was 20 months. The PFS and OS time of the patients with hypercalcemia were shortened, and the difference was very significant after correction(P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Corrected serum calcium can more sensitively to reflect the diseases serious extent, thus indicating prognosis has better effect.</p>

Growth Inhibition of Multiple Myeloma Cells Caused by MicroRNA-15a and Its Mechanisms / 中国实验血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect and possible mechanisms of miR-15a on growth of multiple myeloma(MM) cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>MM cell lines (U266 and RPMI8226) were transfected by lentiviral particles. MM stable cell lines were selected and collected by flow cytometry (FCM). Proliferation of MM cells before and after miR-15a high expression was detected by CCK-8 method. Apoptosis of MM cells before and after miR-15a high expression was detected by AO/EB dying, Hoechst 33258 dying and FCM, respectively. Cell cycle of MM cells before and after miR-15a high expression was detected by FCM. The expressions of miR-15a, BMI-1 and BCL-2 mRNA of MM cells before and after miR-15a high expression were detected by real-time PCR. The expressions of BMI-1 protein of MM cells before and after miR-15a high expression were detected by Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>MM stable cell lines with miR-15a high expression was acquired. CCK-8 result showed that high expression of miR-15a could inhibit growth of MM cells (U266 and RPMI8226). AO/EB dying, Hoechst 33258 dying and FCM testing results showed that high expression of miR-15a could significantly induce apoptosis of MM cells (U266 and RPMI8226). The apoptosis rates of U266 and RPMI8226 cells in high expression group and control group were 90.52% vs 37.08% and 59.40% vs 44.17%, respectively. Meanwhile, FCM testing results showed that high expression of miR-15a could induce G1 arrest of MM cells (U266 and RPMI8226), which proportion of G1 phase were 41.50%±0.64%, 45.31%±0.77%, respectively. Real-time PCR results showed that during the growth inhibition process of MM cells caused by miR-15a high expression, the expression of BCL-2 mRNA decreased, but there was no significant changes in the expression of BMI-1 mRNA, while the expression of BMI-1 protein decreased significantly.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>High expression of miR-15a can induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of MM cells, then inhibit their growth. The mechanisms may be related with the negative regulation of BMI-1 and BCL-2 genes in post-transcription level caused by miR-15a.</p>

Expression and Clinical Significance of Bmi-1 and P14 in Extranodal NK/T-cell Lymphoma / 中国实验血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This study was aimed to investigate the expression and clinical significance of Bmi-1 and P14 in extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTCL) tissue.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Maxvision immunohistochemistry technique was used to detect the expression level of Bmi-1 and P14 in the tissues of 21 patients with ENKTCL and 11 normal lymph nodes. The correlation of Bmi-1 or P14 expression with the clinical features and the correlation between Bmi-1 and P14 expression were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression of Bmi-1 protein was higher in tissues of ENKTCL than that in tissues of lymph nodes, and the Bmi-1 expression levels did not correlate with patients' sex, age, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), International Prognostic Index (IPI) scores and B symptoms (P > 0.05), except for clinical stage (P < 0.05). The P14 protein expression level was lower in ENKTCL tissues than in normal lymph node tissues, which did not correlate with age, sex, LDH, IPI scores, clinical stage and B symptoms. Correlation test showed a negative correlation between Bmi-1 and P14 (r = -0.472, P = 0.031).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Bmi-1 protein over-expresses in ENKTCL tissues that may display a negative-regulation effect on P14 in the genesis and progress of ENKTCL.</p>

Anti-leukemia mechanism of miR-17 and miR-20a silencing mediated by miRNA sponge / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was aimed to quantitatively detect the expression levels of pre-miR-17 and pre-miR-20a in acute leukemia patients and eight kinds of leukemia cell lines, and to investigate the anti-leukemia mechanism of miR-17 and miR-20a silence mediated by miRNA Sponge. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of pre-miR-17 and pre-miR-20a in patients with various types of leukemia and leukemia cell lines. The Jurkat cells over-expressing miR-17 and miR-20a were transfected with recombinant lentivirus-transfecting units targeted at miR-17 and miR-20a plus 6 µg/ml of polybrene. Then the proliferation ability and cell cycle of Jurkat cells was evaluated by CCK-8 and flow cytometry respectively. The results showed that the expression level of pre-miR-17 and pre-miR-20a in all leukemia patients was significantly higher than that in normal group(P < 0.05), the expression of pre-miR-17 and pre-miR-20a in acute lymphoid leukemia was significantly higher than that in acute myeloid leukemia(P < 0.05), and the pre-miR-17 and pre-miR-20a expression level did not correlate significantly with high white blood cell count>20.0×10(9)/L(P > 0.05). The miR-17 and miR-20a silencing mediated by miRNA Sponge led to a significant decrease of cell growth, restored G1 accumulation and increase of cell apoptosis. It is concluded that the expression of miR-17 and miR-20a is upregulated in leukemia patients, which may contribute to leukemogenesis. Over-expressed miR-17 and miR-20a promote cell growth and cell cycle progression, and inhibit apoptosis through negatively-regulating P21 and E2F1 after-transcriptionally.

Expression of MCL-1 and microRNA-29a in extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma tissue / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was aimed to explore the expression level and correlation of MCL-1 and miR-29a in extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTCL) tissue. Maxvision immunohistochemistry technique and real time fluorescent quantitative PCR were used to detect the expression level of MCL-1 and miR-29a in tissue of 20 patients with ENKTCL and 10 patients with proliferative lymphadenitis, respectively. The results showed that the expression of MCL-1 protein were higher in patients with ENKTCL than that in patients with proliferative lymphadenitis, but there were no significant correlation between MCL-1 overexpression and age, sex, Ann Arbor stage and International Prognostic Index (IPI), respectively. Correlation analysis indicated that there was significant negative correlation between miR-29a expression and MCL-1 expression (r = -0.59, P = 0.016). It is concluded that miR-29a may target MCL-1 gene, regulate its expression, then participate in tumorigenesis and development of ENKTCL.

Establishment and application of lentivirus luciferase reporter-mediated miRNA target gene screening system / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was aimed to establish a high-throughput luciferase reporter system, through which to screen and identify miRNAs directly targeting p21, and to explore the biological function and significance of these miRNAs. Molecular cloning technique was used to construct and identify two lentivirus-expressing vectors-pWPXL-Luc and pWPXL-Luc-P21-3'UTR, virus particles were collected after the pWPXL-Luc or pWPXL-Luc-P21-3'UTR vectors were co-transfected with the psPAX2 packaging plasmid and the envelope plasmid pDM2G into HEK-293T cells. Furthermore, two stable cell lines expressing luciferase singly or co-expressed luciferase and P21-3'UTR were established by transducing HEK-293 cells with recombinant lentivirus; the former was used as control in the following experiments. Finally luciferase activity of the latter stable cells was measured by using the luciferase reporter assay system. The results showed that high-titre recombinant lentivirus was produced and two stable cell lines were constructed, also to some certain, the luciferase activity was in direct proportion to the number of cells. In conclusion, the high-throughput luciferase reporter system is established successfully; using this system, the 28 miRNA that directly target P21 Cip1/Waf1 are screened experimentally.

A case of Richter syndrome transformed from chronic lymphocytic leukemia with karyotype aberration of trisomy 12 / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was aimed to investigate the relationship between Richter's syndrome (RS) transformation and clinical characteristics as well as karyotype of patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). By the follow-up of a patient with CLL, the clinical characteristics, karyotype, treatment pattern and its effect, as well as disease progression were monitored regularly with serological test, flow cytometry and FISH technique. The results indicated that the patient typically presented with history of CLL at initial diagnosis, with expression of CD5(+), CD19(+) and CD23(+), Binet stage C, as well as karyotype aberration of trisomy 12, and poorly responded to 4 cycles of standard chemotherapy of FCR regimen. The disease progression was confirmed at 5 months with the symptoms of fever in the absence of infection, elevated lactate dehydrogenase level and rapidly enlarging lymphnodes which showed typically diffuse large B cell lymphoma by the biopsy. It is concluded that karyotype aberration of trisomy 12 is one of the risk factors for RS transformation, and treatment pattern of the patient with CLL may be associated with the transformation of RS.

Establishment of a U266 cell line with stable Bmi-1 silencing by lentivirus-mediated RNA interference / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was aimed to construct lentivirus-mediated shRNA expression vector targeting Bmi-1 and establish a stable cell line U266-li, so as to pave the way for further research on function of Bmi-1 and application of shRNA to gene therapy. One pair of oligonucleotide sequences targeted at human Bmi-1 mRNA were designed and synthesized. The annealed oligonucleotide fragments were subcloned into pLVTHM vector. Virus particles were collected after the control or shRNA vectors were co-transfected with the psPAX2 packaging plasmid and the plasmid pMD2.G was enveloped into HEK-293T cells by using Lipofectamine2000. The U266 cells were transduced with 5 × 10(6) recombinant lentivirus-transducing units plus 6 µg/ml of polybrene. Real-time PCR and Western blot were used respectively to detect the expression of Bmi-1 and P14 after lentivirus transduction. DNA sequencing demonstrated that the lentivirus RNAi vector of Bmi-1 was constructed successfully and the virus was packaged in 293T cells. The titer of virus was 5 × 10(7) TU/ml. Stable transfected U266 cell line was established. As was expected, the mRNA and protein levels of Bmi-1 was reduced significantly in U266 cells after lentivirus transduction, whereas the mRNA and protein levels of P14 was upregulated. It is concluded that the lentiviral RNAi vector of Bmi-1 is constructed, and U266 stable cell line is established.

Clinical analysis on 40 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was aimed to analyze the clinical and laboratorial characteristics of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), as well as their relationship with outcomes of patients. The clinical and laboratorial data of 40 CLL patients admitted from 2004 to 2010 in our hospital were analyzed retrospectively. The results indicated that the most of CLL attacked the elderly male patients with median age 66 (from 42 to 80). Flow cytometric analysis showed that 25 cases were positive for typical immunophenotype of CLL. On the other hand, all the patients clearly expressed CD19 and CD5, 7 cases (17.5%) and 14 cases (35%) were positive for the expression of CD38 and Zap70 respectively. 8 cases harbored a mutated immunoglobulin heavy-chain (VH) gene, among them 4 cases belong to VH3 family. Interphase FISH analysis showed that P53 deletion, RB1 deletion, trisomy 12 and normal chromosome were detected in 6, 3, 1, and 5 cases, respectively. The median PFS in 31 patients received treatment of fludarabine based chemotherapy was 48 months (95%CI: 39 - 57 months), among them 27 cases (87.1%) achieved CR + PR. While PFS was 14 months (95%CI: 10 - 18 months, P < 0.001) in 9 patients received other treatment regimen, out of them only 3 cases (33.3%) achieved CR + PR. Patients with normal level of serum β2-microglobulin at diagnosis showed significantly higher overall survival (78%, 95%CI: 69% - 87%) in 36 months than those with abnormal level of serum β2-microglobulin (47%, 95%CI: 35% - 59%, P = 0.004). Significant difference in the rate of CR + PR was noted in the Zap70 positive group (50%) and in negative group (88.5%, P = 0.006). All of 8 patients with IgVH mutation displayed CR after treatment, while 4 cases (66.7%) archived CR among 6 patients without IgVH mutation. It is concluded that CLL is characterized by high heterogeneity in both clinical features and molecular markers, which are associated with prediction of outcomes for patients. The treatment with fludarabine-based chemotherapy results in a major benefit and long survival for patients with CLL.

Construction of miRNA sponge targeting miR-20a and stable expression in Jurkat leukemia cell line / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was aimed to construct miRNA sponge targeting miR-20a and to establish a stable cell line Jurkat-S, paving the way for further research on function of miR-20a and application of RNAi in gene therapy. One pair of two-repeated oligonucleotide sequences containing bulged sites that are mispaired opposite miR-20a positions 9-12 was designed and synthesized with enzyme cutting sites. The annealed oligonucleotide fragments were subcloned into pCDNA3.0-L expressing vector. After double-enzyme cutting, the vector was ligated to the annealed oligonucleotide fragments again. Enzyme cutting and luciferase activity assay were performed for identification after four repeats. Then the ligated fragment was subcloned to lentivirus expressing vector. Virus particles were collected after the control or sponge vectors were co-transfected with the psPAX2 packaging plasmid and the envelope plasmid pMD2.G into HEK-293T cells using Lipofectamine 2000. The Jurkat cells were transfused with recombinant lentivirus-transfusing units plus 6 µg/ml of Polybrene. Real-time PCR and Western blot were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression of P21 and E2F1 after lentivirus transfusion respectively. As a result, luciferase activity assay demonstrated that the sponge targeting miR-20a was constructed successfully and the virus was packaged in 293T. The titer of virus was 5×10(7) TU/ml. Stable transfected Jurkat-S cell line was established. As was expected, the mRNA and protein level of P21 and E2F1 was upregulated significantly in Jurkat-S cells. It is concluded that the miR-20a sponge is constructed successfully, and Jurkat-S stable cell line is established, in which the expression of miR-20a is inhibited stably.

Mechanism associated to enhancing the sensitivity of myeloma cells U266 to bortezomib by 2-methoxyestradiol / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was aimed to explore the synergistic effect of 2-methoxyestradiol (2-ME2) and bortezomib (Bor) on the proliferative inhibition and apoptosis of U266 cell line and its possible mechanism. The cells were treated with 2-ME2, Bor alone and 2-ME2 combined with Bor, respectively. The cell viability and proliferative curve were detected by CCK8, the cell apoptosis was detected by caspase 3/7 activity test, cell cycle status was analyzed by flow cytometry, and real-time PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of P21, BAX and BCL-2. The results showed that compared with cells treated with 2-ME2 or Bor alone, the proliferative potential of cells in combination group was significantly inhibited (p < 0.05), and apoptosis rate markedly increased (p < 0.05), cell cycle was arrested at G(1)-S phase, the mRNA expressive level of P21 and BAX increased, while the expression of BCL-2 decreased. It is concluded that 2-ME2 combined with Bor synergistically inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in U266 cell line. The possible mechanism may be associated with its effect of up-regulating P21 and BAX expressions.

april mRNA expression in newly diagnosed leukemia patients / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was aimed to quantitatively detect the levels of april mRNA expression in leukemia patients so as to provide theoretical basis for the target therapy directing at april in leukemia. Real time fluorescent quantitative PCR was used to detect the relative expression level of april mRNA in newly diagnosed leukemia patients and to analyze the changes of its expression level in various type of leukemia. The results showed that the april mRNA expression level in acute leukemia (AL) patients was significantly higher than that in normal controls, there was statistical difference between them (p < 0.05); april mRNA expression level in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients was significantly higher than that in normal controls (p < 0.05) and positively correlated with white blood cell count ≥ 20.0 × 10(9)/L (p < 0.05), but not related with extramedullary infiltration and the expression of CD34. Except for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), april mRNA expression level was negatively correlated with sensitivity of patients to chemotherapy. april mRNA expression levels in acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients were not higher than that in normal controls, there was no statistical difference between them (p > 0.05). It is concluded that april gene overexpression exits in AML patients. APRIL protein produced by AML cells probably plays an important role in abnormal proliferation and drug-resistance of AML cells.

Lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase β gene expression in newly diagnosed leukemia patients / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was aimed to quantitatively detect the expression level of lysophosphatide acid acyltransferase β (lpaat β) mRNA in leukemia patients so as to provide theoretical basis for the target therapy of lpaat β in leukemia. Real-time fluorescently quantitative PCR was used to detect the relative expression level of lpaat β mRNA to analyze its expression change in various type of leukemia. The results showed that the lpaat β mRNA expression level in acute leukemia (AL) patients was significantly higher than that in normal controls (p < 0.05); lpaat β mRNA expression level in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients was significantly higher than that in normal controls (p < 0.05) and was positively correlated with white blood cell count (≥ 20.0 × 10(9)/L) (p < 0.05) and CD34 expression level of leukemia, but was not related with extramedullary infiltration. Except for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), the lpaat β mRNA expression level was negatively correlated with chemotherapy sensitivity in chronic myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. lpaat β mRNA expression level in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients was significantly higher than that in normal controls (p < 0.05). lpaat β mRNA expression level in acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL) patients was not higher than that in normal controls (p > 0.05). It is concluded that the lpaat β gene overexpression exists in both AML and CML patients. lpaat β produced by AML cells probably plays an important role in abnormal proliferation and drug-resistance of AML cells.

Gfi-1 expression in leukemia patients and inhibitory effects of lentiviral vector mediated silence of Gfi-1 gene on proliferation in K562 cells / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was aimed to quantitatively detect the expression levels of gfi-1 gene in leukemia patients, and to investigate the effect of gfi-1 gene silenced by short hairpin RNA (shRNA) on proliferation of leukemia cell line K562. Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression levels of GFI-1 in newly diagnosed patients with leukemia. One pair of oligonucleotide sequences targeted at human gfi-1 mRNA were designed and synthesized. The annealed oligonucleotide fragments were subcloned into pLVTHM vector. Virus particles were collected when the control and shRNA vectors had been co-transfected with the psPAX2 packaging plasmid and the envelope plasmid pMD2 G into HEK-293T cells using Lipofectamine 2000. The K562 cells were transfused with 1 x 10⁶ recombinant lentivirus-transfusing units plus 6 microg/ml of polybrene. Rea-time PCR and Western blot were used to detect the expressions of gfi-1 and bax mRNA after lentivirus transfusion. CCK-8 assays was used to evaluate the proliferation potential of cells. The results showed that the gfi-1 expression level in all leukemia patients was significantly higher than that in normal group (p < 0.05); the gfi-1 mRNA expression in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL) patients was significantly higher than that in normal group (p < 0.05); but the difference of gfi-1 mRNA expression between AL and CML or ALL and AML was not significant. Notably, the gfi-1 mRNA expression level had a positive correlation with high white blood cell count of > 20.0 x 10⁹/L (p < 0.05). As was expected, the mRNA and protein level of gfi-1 was reduced significantly in K562 cells after lentivirus transfusion, whereas the mRNA and protein level of bax was upregulated. And CCK-8 assay showed that gfi-1 gene silencing can inhibit K562 proliferation. It is concluded that gfi-1 expression is upregulated in leukemia patients and may contribute to leukemogenesis. The gfi-1 specific shRNA mediated by lentivirus can effectively down-regulate the expression of gfi-1 and inhibit the proliferation of K562 cells, which lay a basis for further research on gene therapy in leukemia.

Effect of bortezomib on lymphoma cell line CA46 and its relative mechanisms / 中国实验血液学杂志

The objective of this study was to explore the effect of bortezomib (BZM) on lymphoma cell line CA46 and its relative mechanisms in vitro. The effects of BZM on the proliferation and apoptosis of CA46 cells were assayed by MTT method and flow cytometry respectively. The effect of BZM on the expression levels of procaspase-3 and BCL-2 protein were detected by Western blot. The results indicated that the BZM could inhibit the growth of CA46 cells significantly and the concentration of 50% growth inhibition (IC₅₀) at 24 and 48 hours were 53.19 and 19.68 nmol/L respectively. After treatment with 20, 40, 80 nmol/L BZM for 24, 48 and 72 hours, a dose- and time-dependent apoptosis of CA46 cells could be observed. After treatment with 20 nmol/L BZM at different time point, a time-dependent reduction of procaspase-3 and BCL-2 protein expression in CA46 cells was found. It is concluded that the BZM can inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of CA46 cells, which relative mechanism may involve the reduction of BCL-2 and the activation of caspase 3.