Abstract:

Objective   To investigate the relationship between the abnormal methylation of the Dickkopf1 (DKK-1) gene, which is a key inhibiting factor of the WNT/β-catenin pathway, and acute leukemia (AL). Methods   Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) was used to examine DKK-1 mRNA expression in 4 AL cell lines (NB4, Jurkat, Molt-4, and CEM) of 65 AL patients and 20 normal controls. Methylation-Specific Polymerase Chain Reaction (MSP) was used to examine the CpG-island methylation status of the DKK-1 gene in AL cell lines of AL patients and the controls. Results   Compared with that in the normal controls, the expression of the DKK-1 gene was significantly reduced in the AL patients(P<0.05). None of the normal mononuclear cells showed methylation of the DKK-1 gene． DKK-1 methylation was found in 24 of the 65 (37.7%) AL patients. The frequencies of aberrant DKK-1 methylation were 41.2%(14/34) in the acute lymphoblastic leukemia(ALL) patients, and 28.6%(10/31) in the acute myelocytic leukemia(AML) patients. ConclusionsMethylation and aberrant expression of the DKK1 gene are common in AL and also play a role in the pathogenesis of some AL.

Key words: Gene, Dickkopfl；Methylation; LeukemiaWNT/β-catenin