RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect the expression of membrane-bound HLA-G (mHLA-G) and serum HLA-G (sHLA-G) in acute leukemia patients and investigate the correlation between HLA-G expression and the occurrence and development of acute leukemia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and flow cytometry were used to detect the expression levels of sHLA-G and mHLA-G in 40 newly diagnosed leukemia cases, 10 refractory and relapsed leukemia cases, and 30 leukemia cases receiving chemotherapy. Ten normal individuals served as the normal control group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean serum level of sHLA-G in normal individuals was 5.87±2.07 ng/ml, as compared to 10.05±6.58 ng/ml in newly diagnosed leukemia patients and 12.32±5.85 ng/ml in refractory and relapsed cases. The mean level of mHLA-G in normal individuals, newly diagnosed cases, and refractory and relapsed cases were (0.29±0.20)%, (0.60±0.44)%, and (0.77±0.41)%, respectively. The mean levels of sHLA-G and mHLA-G were significantly higher in the newly diagnosed cases than that in the normal controls (P<0.05), and significantly higher in patients before chemotherapy than in those with complete remission after chemotherapy (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HLA-G expression levels might influence the treatment outcomes and can serve as a prognostic factor for acute leukemia.</p>