ABSTRACT
Background: The distribution of RUNX1-RUNXT1, PML-RARA, CBFB-MYH11, BCR-ABL1p210 , and KMT2A-MLLT3 in the pediatric population with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in many countries of Latin America is largely unknown. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the frequency of these fusion genes in children with de novo AML from Mexico City, which has one of the highest incidence rates of acute leukemia in the world. Additionally, we explored their impact in mortality during the first year of treatment. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the presence of RUNX1-RUNXT1, PML-RARA, CBFB-MYH11, BCR-ABL1p210 , and KMT2A-MLLT3 by RT-PCR among 77 patients (<18 years) diagnosed with de novo AML between 2019 and 2021 in nine Mexico City hospitals. Results: The overall frequency of the fusion genes was 50.7%; RUNX1-RUNXT1 (22.1%) and PML-RARA (20.8%) were the most prevalent, followed by CBFB-MYH11 (5.2%) and BCR-ABL1p210 (2.4%). KMT2A-MLLT3 was not detected. Patients with PML-RARA showed the lowest survival with high early mortality events. However, more studies are required to evaluate the impact of analyzed fusion genes on the overall survival of the Mexican child population with AML. Conclusion: The pediatric population of Mexico City with AML had frequencies of AML1-ETO, PML-RARA, CBFB-MYH11, and BCR-ABL1p210 similar to those of other populations around the world. Patients with BCR-ABL1p210 and CBFB-MYH11 were few or did not die, while those with MLL-AF9 was not detected. Although patients with PML-RARA had a low survival and a high early mortality rate, further studies are needed to determine the long-term impacts of these fusion genes on this Latino population.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is the fourth cause of death worldwide by cancer in women and is a disease associated to persistent infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), particularly from two high-risk types HPV16 and 18. The virus initiates its replicative cycle infecting cells located in the basal layer of the epithelium, where a small population of epithelial stem cells is located performing important functions of renewal and maintenance of the tissue. Viral E2 gene is one of the first expressed after infection and plays relevant roles in the replicative cycle of the virus, modifying fundamental processes in the infected cells. Thus, the aim of the present study was to demonstrate the presence of hierarchic subpopulations in HaCaT cell line and evaluate the effect of HPV16-E2 expression, on their biological processes. METHODS: HaCaT-HPV16-E2 cells were generated by transduction of HaCaT cell line with a lentiviral vector. The α6-integrin-CD71 expression profile was established by immunostaining and flow cytometric analysis. After sorting, cell subpopulations were analyzed in biological assays for self-renewal, clonogenicity and expression of stemness factors (RT-qPCR). RESULTS: We identified in HaCaT cell line three different subpopulations that correspond to early differentiated cells (α6-integrindim), transitory amplifying cells (α6-integrinbri/CD71bri) and progenitor cells (α6-integrinbri/CD71dim). The last subpopulation showed stem cell characteristics, such as self-renewal ability, clonogenicity and expression of the well-known stem cell factors SOX2, OCT4 and NANOG, suggesting they are stem-like cells. Interestingly, the expression of HPV16-E2 in HaCaT cells changed its α6-integrin-CD71 immunophenotype modifying the relative abundance of the cell subpopulations, reducing significantly the percentage of α6-integrinbri/CD71dim cells. Moreover, the expression of the stem cell markers was also modified, increasing the expression of SOX2 and NANOG, but decreasing notably the expression of OCT4. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrated the presence of a small subpopulation with epithelial "progenitor cells" characteristics in the HaCaT cell line, and that HPV16-E2 expression on these cells induces early differentiation.
