[Expression of antigen CD40 and survivin gene and their clinical implications in acute myeloid leukemia].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the expressions of CD40 antigen and anti-apoptosis gene survivin in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and their clinical significance.


METHODS
By using flow cytometry (FCM) and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), CD40 antigen and anti-apoptosis gene survivin mRNA were studied in 48 AML cases and their association with the clinical features of AML was analysed.


RESULTS
(1) In the 48 AML cases, positive expression of CD40 antigen was found in 25 cases (52.1%) and positive expression of anti-apoptosis gene survivin mRNA in 35 cases (72.9%). (2) The incidence of splenomegaly, thrombocytopenia and hyperleukocytosis in CD40+ AML cases was significantly higher than those in CD40- AML ones (36.0% vs 8.7%), P=0.025; (72.0% vs 43.5%), P=0.045; (32.0% vs 4.4%), P=0.024. (3) There was no difference in the number of the expression of survivin mRNA between CD40+ AML cases and CD40- AML ones (20/25 vs 15/23) P=0.25, but the expression of survivin mRNA of both the groups was high than those of normal controls (20/25 vs 6/20), P=0.001; (15/23 vs 6/20), P=0.021. In the 48 AML cases the rate of the expression of CD40 antigen was less than those of anti-apoptosis gene survivin mRNA (52.1% vs 72.9%), P=0.041. (4) The complete remission (CR) rate in the survivin+ AML cases receiving chemotherapy was significantly less than that in the survivin- AML ones (31.4% vs 69.2%), P=0.018.


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of CD40 antigen might be associated with some unfavorable clinical features of AML. The expression of anti-apoptosis gene survivin might be one of the reasons that AML have a lower CR rate, and it is one of the prognostic factors in AML.
Zhu
Fang-bing
FB
Fujian Institute of Hematology, the Affiliated Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350001, China.
Wang
Shao-yuan
SY
Zhang
Yi-wen
YW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000077022:Survivin
C107489:BIRC5 protein, human; D019013:CD40 Antigens; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000077022:Survivin