ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) is a rate-limiting enzyme which dictates the activity of human telomerase and thus decides the life span of cells. The aim of this study was to explore the expression of hTERT in bone marrow from children with beta-thalassemia major and the relationship between the expression of hTERT and hemoglobin levels.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Multiple allele specific polymerase chain reaction (MASPCR) was used for targeted DNA amplification and gene mutation analysis of beta-thalassemia. hTERT mRNA expression in bone marrow was examined using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis in 29 children with beta-thalassemia major, in 10 children with agranulocytosis and in K562 cell line. The hemoglobin levels in peripheral blood were measured. The relationship between hTERT expression and hemoglobin levels was evaluated by the Spearman test in the beta-thalassemia major group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>hTERT mRNA expression significantly increased in bone marrow from children with beta-thalassemia major compared with that from children with agranulocytosis (0.2928+/- 0.0838 vs 0.0993+/- 0.0336; P<0.01), but was significantly lower than that in K562 cell line (0.8291+/- 0.0908) (P<0.01). A significantly inverse correlation was found between hTERT mRNA expression and hemoglobin levels (r=-0.841, P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>A low hemoglobin concentration might contribute to the up-regulation of marrow hTERT expression in children with beta-thalassemia major.</p>
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Telomerase , Genetics , beta-Thalassemia , GeneticsABSTRACT
Objective To explore the gene expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT)in childhood acute non- lymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) and its clinical implication. Methods Expression of hTERT mRNA was detected in HL - 60 leukemia cell line, 14 ANLL children and 11 healthy children by reverse transcriptase- polymerase chain reaction (RT- PCR). Results hTERT gene was expressed in HL-60 cell line, ANLL children (11/14) and healthy children (2/11). The expression of hTERT gene was observed in all subtypes of ANLL. Furthermore, there were statistically significant differences in expression levels of hTERT gene between children with ANLL and healthy children (t = 5.034 P = 0). Conclusions The up - regulation of gene expression of hTERT may play a very important role in the progression of children ANLL. The detection of hTERT expression may be a useful additional method for monitoring the state of illness.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the relationship between gene expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and its clinical characteristics in leukemia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The protocol of RT-PCR was used to detect the hTERTmRNA expressing levels in peripheral blood samples from leukemic patients under primary treatment(n=42), in complete remission(n=21), with recurrent leukemia (n=4); and from normal subjects (n=5), respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The positive percentage of hTERTmRNA expression was 73.81% for the primary treatment cases, and 19.05% for the complete remission cases. All of the recurrent cases gave positive results. One of the normal controls presented low level of hTERTmRNA expression. The expressing level of hTERTmRNA in primary treatment cases was 0.64+/-0.21, in complete remission leukemia 0.31+/-0.16, in recurrent cases 0.84+/-0.09, and in normal controls 0.10.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The activation of telomerase may be an essential factor in the development of leukemia and usually be the late event in its progression. As an indicator of leukemia cell, the detection of hTERT mRNA may be used in clinical analysis, disease monitoring and prognosis judgement.</p>