miR-146a Expression Level as a Novel Putative Prognostic Marker for Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia

Abstract EN

Background.

Although the curative rate for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) has been improved over decades, long-term prognosis is still poor.

The genetic pathways that regulated cell lineage fate during the development of APL remain unclear.

Methods.

We investigated the correlations of miR-146a expression with its target gene Smad4 and the biological behaviors of NB4 cells.

We also analyzed their expression in clinical samples from APL patients.

Results.

miR-146a influenced apoptosis and proliferation in NB4 cells.

miR-146a influenced endogenous Smad4 protein levels in APL cells.

miR-146a expression levels were positively correlated with white cell counts and PML/RARα fusion protein expression.

miR-146a expression levels were negatively correlated with Smad4 protein and the helper T cell (Th)/the suppressor T cell (Ts) ratio in these patients.

Conclusions.

These findings indicated that miR-146a played an important role in the development of APL in part through the repression on Smad4 protein expression.

miR-146a functioned as an oncogene and may be a novel prognostic biomarker in APL.