How is the relationship between TWIST-1 and BCR-ABL1 gene expressions in chronic myeloid leukaemia patients?

• Published in: Biomarkers Vol. 23; no. 3; pp. 271 - 276
• Main Authors: Heidari, Nazanin, Vosoughi, Tina, Mohammadi Asl, Javad, Saki Malehi, Amal, Saki, Najmaldin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 03.04.2018
• Subjects: Chronic myelogenous leukaemia; BCR-ABL1; TWIST-1
• ISSN: 1354-750X; 1366-5804; 1366-5804
• DOI: 10.1080/1354750X.2018.1423705

The activation and increased expression of BCR-ABL1 lead to malignant chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML) cells, as well as the resistance to antitumour agents and apoptosis inducers. Moreover, TWIST-1 protein is a prognostic factor of leukemogenesis, and its level is raised in CML patients with cytogenetic resistance to imatinib. So, there is a likely relationship between BCR-ABL1 and TWIST-1 genes. The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between TWIST-1 and BCR-ABL1 expressions. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 44 CML patients under treatment and also from ten healthy subjects as normal controls. The expression of TWIST-1 and BCR-ABL1 genes was measured using real-time PCR, and ABL1 was used as the reference gene. The gene expression was evaluated by REST software. The expression levels of TWIST-1 and BCR-ABL1 genes in CML patients was changed 40.23 ± 177.75-fold and 6 ± 18-fold, respectively. No significant relationship was observed between the expressions of TWIST-1 and BCR-ABL1 genes. All patients with TWIST-1 expression levels ≥100-fold had failure of response to treatment. The probability of the relationship between BCR-ABL1 and TWIST-1 is still debatable, and the average of TWIST-1 expression has been higher in patients without response to treatment. Definitive conclusion needs further investigations.