[Expression of transferrin receptor 2 in mononuclear cells from children with acute leukemia].
OBJECTIVE
To study the expression of TFR2 mRNA in mononuclear cells of bone marrow and peripheral blood from children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and to explore possible correlations between TFR2 expression and a panel of prognostic/risk factors.


METHODS
Bone marrow or peripheral mononuclear cells were isolated from 56 children with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and 15 normal children as control. TFR2 mRNA expression level in mononuclear cell was determined by real-time fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR.


RESULTS
Relative expression level of TFR2 mRNA in prednisone good responders (median: 0.0848) was significantly higher than that in prednisone poor responders (median: 0.0126) (P = 0.038). The medians of TFR2 mRNA expression levels in low-risk, moderate-risk and high-risk ALL were 0.1677, 0.0728 and 0.0125 respectively (P = 0.003). The medians of TFR2 mRNA expression levels in three ALL groups with initial WBC counts less than 50 x 10(9)/L, from 50 x 10(9)/L to 100 x 10(9)/L and more than 100 x 10(9)/L were 0.0974, 0.0294 and 0.0078 (P = 0. 013). In addition, the relative TFR2 mRNA level in B-lineage ALL was significantly higher than that in T-ALL, with medians of 0.0636 and 0.0065 respectively (P = 0.004). Ranked correlation analysis revealed that TFR2 expression was negatively correlated to initial white blood cell count, percentage of blast cells and absolute numbers of blasts in peripheral blood, with ranked correlation coefficients of -0.398, -0.307 and 0.421 respectively (correponding P values were 0.003, 0.022 and 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
TFR2 might be a novel prognostic factor for ALL.
Pan
Ling-Li
LL
Department of Medical Laboratory Centers, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Gao
Ju
J
Chen
Ting-Ting
TT
Ma
Zhi-Gui
ZG
Guo
Xia
X
Zhu
Yi-Ping
YP
Li
Qiang
Q
Yuan
Li-Xing
LX
D000293:Adolescent; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000097:blood*; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; C503640:TFR2 protein, human