title: Quantitative real time PCR analysis of apoptosis-related gene expression in leukemias in Ukrainian patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The complete medical consequences of the long-term exposure of population to ionizing radiation in post-Chernobyl period are still a controversial issue. The molecular biological analysis of malignant diseases of hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues in contaminated territories requires the precise diagnosis based on criteria of novel classifications.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the relative gene expression of six apoptosis-related genes in different types of tumors of hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues in patients living in areas of Ukraine contaminated with radionuclides in post-Chernobyl period.
  
  
  METHODS
  The samples of the peripheral blood and bone marrow of 189 Ukrainian leukemia patients and 16 patients with reactive lymphocytosis were analyzed morphologically and immunocytochemically for precise delineation of the main forms and cytological variants of hematological malignancies according to new WHO classification. Expression of six apoptosis-related genes was analyzed in the individual samples of 9 different groups of malignant diseases of hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues and one group of patients with reactive lymphocytosis by quantitative RT-PCR. Expression of genes was assessed relative to that in control group of healthy donors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Up-regulation of six analyzed apoptosisrelated genes is observed in all groups of leukemia. In most groups of leukemia being analyzed, BCL-2 up-regulation level is superior to that of BAX. Prominent MYC up-regulation is observed in B-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and T-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma groups. In myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasms, the striking up-regulation of Fas-1 and P38MAPK is evident. Practically all the groups of leukemia are characterized by stable high ratios of P53 up-regulation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Ukrainian patients, up-regulation of six analyzed apoptosis-related genes is observed practically in all types of malignant diseases of hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues under study. Microarray-based analysis of these samples would be of great importance in terms of elucidating genomic interactions in leukemias and their possible association with ionizing radiation.
authors.affiliation: Medical Genetics Department, Medicine Faculty of Kocaeli University, Turkey. hakansavli@yahoo.com
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Savli
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Gluzman
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sunnetci
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Zavelevich
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Sklyarenko
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Nadgornaya
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Koval
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000528:radiation effects; D047852:Chernobyl Nuclear Accident; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D015973:Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D014455:Ukraine / Q000453:epidemiology; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C491901:FAS protein, human; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D019014:fas Receptor; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases