Protein expression analysis of chromosome 12 candidate genes in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)

The pathogenic role of trisomy 12 in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) remains unresolved, but recently an upregulated RNA expression level has been observed for chromosome 12 candidate genes. In the current study, the protein expression of chromosome 12 candidate genes was characterized by comparing CLL cases with (n=58) or without (n=16) trisomy 12, CD19+-B-cells and cell lines (JVM-2, EHEB, JURKAT). Immunoblotting was performed to quantify the levels of AID, APAF-1, ARF3, CCND2, CDK2, CKD4, GLI, MDM-2, p27, Smac/DIABLO and STAT6 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 6). The cell lines showed distinct expression patterns for CCND2, MDM-2, p27, Smac/DIABLO and STAT6, and displayed higher levels of CDK2 and CDK4 than the CLL cases. JURKAT and the CLL cases expressed uniformly high levels of p27, but low levels of CCND2. AID expression in the CLL cases was weak with slight variations regardless of the subgroup affiliation. The expression of the investigated proteins was independent of the trisomy 12 status as well as of the VH mutation status. The comparison of CD19+-B-cells with CLL revealed higher protein levels in CLL for CDK4, p27, Smac/DIABLO and STAT6. Further studies including protein expression experiments in genetic high-risk subgroups of CLL have to elucidate whether these proteins qualify as candidates for targeted CLL therapies.