Study of MicroRNA-326 and MicroRNA-200c Expression in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Background: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is cancer of lymphocytes, characterized by over production and accumulation of cancerous immature lymphocytes known as lymphoblasts. The purpose of this research was to estimate micRNA-326 and micRNA-200c expression in children with ALL before and after chemotherapy to explore their potential value in diagnosis and prognosis of pediatric ALL. Methods: This case control researchwas conducted on 30 children with ALL (group I) and 10 healthy children with matched age and sex as controls (group II). All participants were subjected to history taking, clinical examination and laboratory investigations including routine investigations for cases and controls (CBC on ERMA PCE-210N cell counter, serum LDH, ESR assessment), investigations for cases only (bone marrow aspiration and examination of stained films, cytochemistry, and immunophenotyping) and specific laboratory test for cases and controls: MicRNA-326 and MicRNA-200c relative expression by quantitative-real time PCR at diagnosis and after one year of chemotherapy. Results: MicRNA-326 and micRNA-200c relative gene expression levels were significantly down regulated in ALL cases than in control group. As regard ALL subtypes micRNA-326 was significantly down regulated in T-ALL cases than in B-ALL cases. While micRNA-200c was significantly down regulated in B-ALL cases than in T-ALL. After a year of chemotherapy for ALL cases, micRNA-326 and micRNA-200c expression levels were still down regulated in relapsed cases while upregulated in cured cases. Conclusions: The present research showed a statistically significant lower expression of micRNA-326 and micRNA-200c in newly diagnosed ALL children and in relapsed cases after one year of chemotherapy. These data suggests that micRNA-326 and micRNA-200c may play a role in diagnosis, prognosis, and early detection of relapsed cases.