Role of platelet function and platelet membrane glycoproteins in children with primary immune thrombocytopenia.

The aim of the present study was to examine and understand changes in platelet functions prior to and after the treatment of primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) in children. An automatic hematology analyzer and whole blood flow cytometry were used to detect immature platelet fraction (IPF), IPC and membrane glycoproteins (CD62p, PAC-1 and CD42b) in ITP children (ITP group), children with complete response after ITP treatment (ITP-CR group) and children with elective surgery (normal control group). The results showed that, levels of platelet count (PLT) and plateletcrit in the ITP group were lower alhtough the levels of mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width and platelet-large cell ratio (P-LCR) were higher than those in the normal control and ITP-CR groups. PLT in the ITP-CR group was lower than that in the normal controls. Additionally, IPF% was higher in the normal control and ITP-CR groups, IPC was lower in the ITP group compared to the normal control and ITP-CR groups. Furthermore, prior to ADP activation, the expression levels of CD62p, PAC-1 and CD42b in the ITP group were lower in ITP group than those in the normal control and ITP-CR groups. The expression level of PAC-1 was lower in the ITP-CR and normal control groups. No differences were identified in CD62p and CD42b expression levels. Following ATP activation, CD62p, PAC-1 and CD42b expression in the ITP group was lower than that in the normal control and ITP-CR groups. PAC-1 expression was lower while CD62p expression was higher in the ITP-CR group compared to the normal control group. In conclusion, the activation of platelets in ITP children was low. Decreased platelet function, platelet parameters and platelet glycoproteins may be used as markers for monitoring the treatment efficacy in ITP children.

Effect of ATRA on the expression of HOXA5 gene in K562 cells and its relationship with cell cycle and apoptosis.

Leukemia is the most common malignant disease in children with high incidence and mortality rates, and a poor treatment effect. The aim of the present study was to examine the changes in the expression of homeobox (Hox) A5 gene and its relationship with cell cycle and apoptosis through the intervention of human K562 myeloid leukemia cell line by all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), to analyze the role of HOXA5 in the pathogenesis and development process of myeloid leukemia. The optimal concentration of ATRA to be used with K562 cells was determined using a cell counting kit­8 (CCK­8). After 24, 72 and 48 h following treatment of K562 cells with 10 µmol/l ATRA, cell cycle events and apoptosis were measured using flow cytometry. HOXA5 mRNA and protein expression in K562 cells was assessed by RT­PCR and western blot analysis, and the relationship between HOXA5 expression and cell cycle and apoptosis was analyzed. The HOXA5 mRNA and protein expression levels were increased following treatment with ATRA in K562 cells. Apoptosis was increased significantly. The cell cycle was inhibited in G0/G1 phase. Cell proliferation was also inhibited. HOXA5 mRNA and protein expression rates positively correlated with cell apoptosis and the increased percentage and cell cycle of the G0/G1 phase. However, HOXA5 negatively correlated with the reduced percentage of S stage. In conclusion, the expression of HOXA5 in cells was increased following treatment with ATRA in K562 cells, in a time-dependent manner. Additionally, ATRA may inhibit the proliferation of K562 cells and promote apoptosis by upregulating the HOXA5 mRNA and protein expression.

Effect of silencing HOXA5 gene expression using RNA interference on cell cycle and apoptosis in Jurkat cells.

Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is a common malignant tumor with a high morbidity rate among children, accounting for approximately 80% of leukemia cases. Although there have been improvements in the treatment of patients frequent relapse lead to a poor prognosis. The aim of the present study was to determine whether HOXA5 may be used as a target for gene therapy in leukemia in order to provide a new treatment. Mononuclear cells were extracted from the bone marrow according to the clinical research aims. After testing for ALL in the acute stage, the relative mRNA and protein expression of HOXA5 was detected in the ALL remission groups (n=25 cases per group) and the control group [n=20 cases, immune thrombocytopenia (ITP)]. Gene silencing by RNA interference (RNAi) was used to investigate the effect of silencing HOXA5 after small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection to Jurkat cells. The HOXA5-specific siRNA was transfected to Jurkat cells using lipofectamine. The experiment was divided into the experimental group (liposomal transfection of HOXA5 targeting siRNA), the negative control group (liposomal transfection of cells with negative control siRNA) and the control group (plus an equal amount of cells and culture media only). Western blotting and quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (QF­PCR) were used to detect the relative HOXA5 mRNA expression and protein distribution in each cell group. Cell distribution in the cell cycle and the rate of cells undergoing apoptosis were determined using flow cytometry. The expression of HOXA5 at the mRNA and protein levels in the acute phase of ALL was significantly higher than that in ALL in the remission and control groups. In cells transfected with HOXA5-specific siRNA, the expression of HOXA5 at the mRNA and protein levels decreased significantly (P<0.05). The distribution of cells in the cell cycle was also altered. Specifically, more cells were present in the G0/G1 phase compared to the S phase (P<0.05). In addition, the apoptotic rate was significantly higher in cells transfected with HOXA5­specific siRNA (P<0.05). In conclusion, high expression levels of HOXA5 mRNA and protein in children with ALL indicate that HOXA5 is closely associated with childhood ALL. In addition, HOXA5-specific siRNA effectively silences HOXA5 gene expression and induces apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest in Jurkat cells, thus inhibiting cell proliferation.