title: PNAS-2: a novel gene probably participating in leukemogenesis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  As(4)S(4) is an effective drug for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia but its mechanism of action remains largely unknown. In a previous study, we identified PNAS-2, a human apoptosis-related protein gene, using gene expression profiling. In this study, we tried to clarify the role of PNAS-2 in apoptosis and leukemogenesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  NB4 and U937 leukemia cell lines and serial clinical samples were studied. RNA interference (RNAi) and RNA overexpression were used to address the potential role of PNAS-2 in apoptosis. PNAS-2 expression was examined using Northern blot in multiple tissues, and real-time PCR was applied to analyze PNAS-2 expression in various patient samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Functional analyses of PNAS-2 by RNAi and RNA overexpression indicate PNAS-2 is an anti-apoptosis gene. PNAS-2 expression is significantly increased in de novo or relapsed acute leukemia, but in patients in complete remission PNAS-2 levels decrease to levels comparable to those found in normal controls. In carcinomas, PNAS-2 expression was not upregulated, indicating that PNAS-2 overexpression was specific for leukemia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the preliminary data, we suggest that the PNAS-2 gene functions as an anti-apoptotic gene and probably participates in leukemogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Ren-Ji Hospital and Shanghai Institute of Hematology, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Hai-Rong
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chun-Hong
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Jian-Yi
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Jie-Yin
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Fang-Yuan
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ren-Rong
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Ouyang
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics*; D015973:Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D020298:U937 Cells; D015854:Up-Regulation; D056827:Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport
chemical_list: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; C499838:CHMP5 protein, human; D056827:Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport