ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes of platelet mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate synthase 6( ATPase-6)gene in patients with occupational chronic myeloid leukemia( CML) caused by benzene. METHODS: Five occupational benzene induced CML patients were selected as the case group and 21 healthy workers without benzene exposure were selected as the control group,venous blood were drew from these study subjects. The number of platelet was counted. The level of mitochondrial ATPase-6 gene was examined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The platelet count in case group was lower than that of control group [( 135. 2 ± 32. 6) ×10~9/ L vs( 239. 7 ± 77. 5) ×10~9/ L,P < 0. 05]. The ratio of ATPase-6 gene / platelet was higher than that of control group( median: 3. 43 ×10~(-4)copies vs 1. 87 ×10~(-4)copies,P < 0. 05). The ATPase-6 gene level in case group showed no significant difference when compared with that of control group( median: 4. 83 ×10~7 copies / L vs 3. 24 ×10~7 copies / L,P > 0. 05). CONCLUSION: The benzene induced CML patients shows more sensitive change in ratio of ATPase-6 gene / platelet than in ATPase-6 gene level.