[Study on aberration in histone methylation and acetylation in acute leukemia].
OBJECTIVE
To study the aberration in histone H3K4 and H3K9 methylation and H3 and H4 acetylation in human acute leukemia (AL) cells.


METHODS
The histone H3K4 and H3K9 methylation and H3 and H4 acetylation were detected by Western blot in 34 AL patients and 13 controls (9 non leukemia patients, 4 healthy volunteers).


RESULTS
The level of H3K4 methylation was significantly lower in 19 AL patients than in non leukemia (0.220 ± 0.096 vs 0.447 ± 0.186, P < 0.01), while the level of H3K9 methylation was significantly higher (0.409 ± 0.106 vs 0.168 ± 0.015, P < 0.01); Both level of histone H3 and H4 acetylation in 15 AL patients were significantly lower (H3: 0.128 ± 0.013 vs 0.386 ± 0.104, H4: 0.096 ± 0.008 vs 0.341 ± 0.096, respectively, both P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Aberration of histone methylation and deficient histone acetylation in AL may represent the markers for an aberrant post-translational modification of histones and chromatin structure. It might be a potential epigenetic target for anti-leukemia agent.
Department of Hematology, Zhangzhou City Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University, Zhangzhou 363000, China.
Xu-Dong
XD
Ma
Yi-Qun
YQ
Huang
Li-Yun
LY
Xiao
Yong
Y
Zou
D000107:Acetylation; D019175:DNA Methylation; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia; D008745:Methylation; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational
D006657:Histones