title: miR-146a expression level as a novel putative prognostic marker for acute promyelocytic leukemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although the curative rate for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) has been improved over decades, long-term prognosis is still poor. The genetic pathways that regulated cell lineage fate during the development of APL remain unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated the correlations of miR-146a expression with its target gene Smad4 and the biological behaviors of NB4 cells. We also analyzed their expression in clinical samples from APL patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  miR-146a influenced apoptosis and proliferation in NB4 cells. miR-146a influenced endogenous Smad4 protein levels in APL cells. miR-146a expression levels were positively correlated with white cell counts and PML/RARα fusion protein expression. miR-146a expression levels were negatively correlated with Smad4 protein and the helper T cell (Th)/the suppressor T cell (Ts) ratio in these patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings indicated that miR-146a played an important role in the development of APL in part through the repression on Smad4 protein expression. miR-146a functioned as an oncogene and may be a novel prognostic biomarker in APL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China.
authors.forename: Lan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China.
authors.forename: Haixia
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China.
authors.forename: Fang-yuan
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China.
authors.forename: Jihua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China.
authors.forename: Lijing
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015473:Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D051901:Smad4 Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C542542:MIRN146 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; C497796:SMAD4 protein, human; D051901:Smad4 Protein