Correlation of protein expression and gene expression in acute leukemia.
BACKGROUND
Flow cytometry (FC) is a standard method for diagnosing and subclassifying acute myeloid (AML) and acute lymphoblastic (ALL) leukemias and allows the analysis of cell surface and intracellular proteins. In the future, diagnostic procedures may include oligonucleotide microarray analysis (MA) to detect expression patterns of large numbers of specific genes.


METHODS
For comparison between methods, we performed FC and MA by using the Affymetrix GeneChip HG-U133A microarray in parallel and correlated protein expression levels and mRNA abundance of 39 relevant genes in 113 patients with newly diagnosed AML and ALL and four normal bone marrow samples.


RESULTS
In 1,512 of 2,187 (69.1%) comparisons between methods, congruent results were obtained with regard to positivity or negativity of expression, respectively. Specifically, there was a significant correlation between protein expression and mRNA abundance for genes essential for diagnosing and subclassifying AML and ALL with regard to positivity and expression.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that protein expression is highly correlated to mRNA abundance in AML and ALL. Further, expression patterns of specific genes provide important information at diagnosis for patients with AML and ALL that may be used for the discrimination from other leukemias.
Kern
Wolfgang
W
Laboratory for Leukemia Diagnostics, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, University Hospital Grosshadern, Department of Internal Medicine III, Munich, Germany. wolfgang.kern@med3.med.uni-muenchen.de
Kohlmann
Alexander
A
Wuchter
Christian
C
Schnittger
Susanne
S
Schoch
Claudia
C
Mergenthaler
Susanne
S
Ratei
Richard
R
Ludwig
Wolf-Dieter
WD
Hiddemann
Wolfgang
W
Haferlach
Torsten
T
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007938:Leukemia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
D015703:Antigens, CD; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger