Genetic polymorphisms of glutathione-S-transferase and microsomal epoxide hydrolase in acquired aplastic anemia

Glutathione-S-transferase [GST] and microsomal epoxide hydrolase [mEh] are detoxifing enzymes that modulate the effects of exposure to various environmental cytotoxic and genotoxic agents, including those associated with increased risk of acquired aplastic anemia [AAA]. The GST mu1 [GSTM1], GST the ta1 [GSTT1] and mEh genes have polymorphisms with functional alteration that could explain the interindividual risks for AAA. To determine the frequency of GST and mEh polymorphisms as a risk factor for the susceptibility, clinical severity and response to treatment in a group of Egyptian paediatric patients with AAA. GST and mEh genotypes were determined by multiplex-PCR and PCR-RFLP analysis respectively in 21 patients with AAA and 20 healthy matched control subjects. The mEh enzyme activities genotypes were assessed. The incidence of the GSTT1 null genotype was significantly higher in AAA patients compared with the controls [85.7% vs. 50%] [OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.1-7.8, p=0.01]. The incidence of the heterozygous arginine [Arg] 139 polymorphism in exon 4 of the mEh gene was significantly higher in AAA patients compared with the controls [61.9% vs. 20%], [OR 3.07; 95% CI, 1.23-7.7, p=0.005]. The incidence of the fast mEh activity genotype was significantly higher in AAA patients compared with the controls [33.3% vs. 15%] [OR 2.9; 95% CI, 1.09-8.9, p=0.03]. Most patients with normal functional phenotype responded significantly favorably to treatment than patients with abnormal enzyme activity [p=0.027]. Genetic polymorphisms in biotransformation enzymes: GSTT1-null genotype, mEh His/Arg polymorphism and fast putative functional activity could be considered as risk factors to develop AAA. Moreover, abnormal functional activity of mEh enzyme was associated with worse prognosis of the disease

PCR and immunocytochemistry detection of p27[kip1] in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Chronic B-cell lymphocytic leukemia [B-CLL] is a clonal expansion of B-cells with low proliferative activity in which the cells are arrested in G[0]/G[1] phase of cell cycle. p27[KIP1] is one of the KIP/CIP family of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors [CKIs] which inhibit all cyclin dependent kinases by direct binding to cdk complexes. It is highly expressed when cells are arrested in G[0]/G[1]and its expression declines as cells progress towards S phase. In B-CLL the non-physiological increase in p27[KIP1] appears to be of clinical relevance since high protein levels correlate with poorer survival of patients. To study the expression of p27[KIP1] in B-CLL patients and correlate these results with the clinical and laboratory data of patients. p27[KIP1] expression was determined at the mRNA level by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR] and at the protein level by immunocytochemistry in 35 patients with de novo B-CLL and 30 healthy age- and sex-matched control subjects. p27[KIP1] mRNA levels by RT-PCR was significantly higher among CLL patients compared to the control subjects [p<0.001] and was significantly higher among group II CLL patients [lymphocyte count >30 x 10[3]/L] compared to group I CLL patients [lymphocyte count