title: Abnormal mRNA Expression Levels of Telomere-Binding Proteins Represent Biomarkers in Myelodysplastic Syndromes: A Case-Control Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  As evidence was shown that abnormal shortening of telomeres begins to accumulate in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients, this study was conducted to determine the relationship between the mRNA expression levels of telomere-binding proteins (TRF1/TRF2/TIN2/TPP1/POT1/RAP1) and the risk level in MDS.
  
  
  METHODS
  There were 40 patients with MDS and 40 normal controls in this study. Methods including telomere content assays and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction were used to examine the mRNA levels of TRF1/TRF2/TIN2/TPP1/POT1/RAP1 in patients with MDS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to the normal group used as a control, the mRNA expression levels of RAP1/POT1/TPP1 of the patients with MDS were decreased, whereas their levels of TRF1/TRF2 and TIN2 were increased. A positive correlation was found between the TRF1, TRF2, and TIN2 mRNA expression levels and the risk level of the International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) and the World Health Organization Prognostic Scoring System (WPSS) criteria; however, a negative correlation was found between RAP1/POT1/TPP1 mRNA expression levels and the risk levels of IPSS and WPSS criteria.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because the reduction of TRF1/TRF2/TIN2 mRNA expression and the increase of RAP1/POT1/TPP1 mRNA expression are closely related to the risk levels of the IPSS and WPSS criteria in MDS, it is thought that these telomere-binding proteins could lead to abnormal telomere length and function, which cause chromosomal abnormalities in MDS. With this evidence, we suggest that those proteins' mRNA expressions could be used as biomarkers for the assessment of the risk degree of MDS patients.
authors.forename: Baoshan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Rongdi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Department of Hematology, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: Xing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cui
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012307:Risk Factors; D000089804:Shelterin Complex / Q000235:genetics*; D016615:Telomere / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D059505:Telomere Homeostasis; D034501:Telomere-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C495876:ACD protein, human; D015415:Biomarkers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000089804:Shelterin Complex; D034501:Telomere-Binding Proteins