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[Expression of bcl-2 gene in the evolution of chronic myelogenous leukemia to blast crisis and its implication]
1Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, CAMS and PUMC, Tianjin 300020.
Objective:
To investigate the expression of bcl-2 gene and cell apoptosis and cell cycle in bone marrow of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML).
Methods:
APAAP assay and in situ hybridization were used for the expression of BCL-2 protein and bcl-2 mRNA in fresh bone marrow samples from 60 cases of CML. Flow cytometry was used to assess the extent of apoptosis and cell cycle percentage.
Results:
The expression of bcl-2 gene had no statistical difference between CMLs at presentation and in chronic phase, but was much lower in blast crisis (P < 0.05). The percentage of bcl-2 mRNA positive cells was consistent with BCL-2 protein expression. In addition, BCL-2 protein was related to the Hb levels, BPC, and immature cells in the peripheral blood and bone marrow. Notably, the extent of apoptosis in accelerated phase/blast crisis was much lower than that in chronic phase(P = 0.028), while the cell cycle had no difference.
Conclusion:
High level of bcl-2 gene expression and low extent of apoptosis in bone marrow cells of CML might partially be the mechanism of poor prognosis of blast crisis, and this provides a new experimental basis for early diagnosis and treatment of CML blast crisis.