title: Gene Expression of VEGF-A and VEGF-C in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Iranian Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The crucial role of angiogenesis in the pathophysiology of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has been proposed. One of the key regulators of angiogenesis is the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Among the VEGF family, it has been observed that VEGF-A and VEGF-C are expressed by AML cells and mediate leukemic cell proliferation, survival, and resistance to chemotherapy. Emerging evidence, however, suggests that elevated levels of VEGF or a proangiogenic phenotype may impede, rather than promote, early tumor development and progression. As the significance of VEGF-A and VEGF-C levels in the pathogenesis of AML has not been clarified well, the aim of this study is to evaluate gene expression of these angiogenesis promoters and its possible prognostic value in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of Iranian patients with AML.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated the mRNA expression of VEGF-A and VEGF-C in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 27 patients with newly diagnosed AML and 28 healthy controls by quantitative real-time PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Expression of VEGF-C mRNA was significantly lower in AML patients than in healthy controls (p<0.001). However, there was no significant decrement in expression of VEGF-A mRNA of AML patients compared to the control group (p=0.861). VEGF-A and VEGF-C expression were not able to predict clinical outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data showed that AML is associated with a decreased expression of VEGF-C mRNA. However, expression levels did not influence the clinical outcome in our study. It seems that angiogenesis is affected by different cytokines other than VEGF-C or VEGF-A, and VEGF is also affected by different cytokines. Taken together, these findings help to provide new insights into the investigation of other angiogenic factors and cytokines that may play roles in the pathogenesis of AML.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  None declared.
authors.affiliation: Hematology and Oncology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran ; Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran ; Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Aliparasti
authors.affiliation: Hematology and Oncology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran ; Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran ; Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Shohreh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Almasi
authors.affiliation: Hematology and Oncology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Zohreh
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sanaat
authors.affiliation: Hematology and Oncology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Aliakbar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Movasaghpoor
authors.affiliation: Hematology and Oncology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Khalili-Dizaji
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Center, Department of Statistics & Epidemiology, School of Health & Nutrition, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Homayoun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sadeghi-Bazargani
keywords: Acute myeloid leukemia; Angiogenesis; Gene expression; VEGF-A; VEGF-C