Abstract
Objective: To investigate the clinical implications of telomerase activity and human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) expression as useful diagnostic marker in acute leukemia. Methods: Expression of hTERT was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in 24 cases with acute leukemia and in 12 normal persons. Quantitative levels of telomerase activity were examined by polymerase chain reaction enzyme-linked immunoassay (PCR-ELISA). Results: In the bone marrow and peripheral blood of 24 acute leukemia, telomerase activity was detected in 75% of the samples, with absorbances (A) of 0.538±0.062 and 0.463±0.054, respectively. Whereas in 12 normal peripheral blood, telomerase activity had only a positive rate of 8.3%, with A value of 0.16±0.012. telomerase activities in the bone marrow and peripheral blood of acute leukemia were significantly higher than in normal control (P<0.05). RT-PCR analysis revealed that hTERT mRNA was expressed in 79.17%(19/24) of acute leukemia, but in only 1 of 12 normal peripheral blood. In 24 acute leukemias, 17 cases had both positive telomerse activity and hTERT mRNA expression. The expression of hTERT mRNA is correlated with telomerase activity (P<0.01). Conclusion: Telomerase and hTERT mRNA could be useful in diagnosis of acute leukemia. hTERT gene expression was strongly associated with telomerase activity in acute leukemia.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Kim NW, Piatyszek MA, Prowse KR, et al. Specific association of human telomerase activity with immortal cells and cancer[J]. Science 1994; 266: 2011–5.
Hiyama E, Hiyama K. Clinical utility of telomerase in cancer[J]. Oncogene 2002; 21: 643–9.
Engelhardt M, Mackenzie K, Drullinsky P, et al. Telomerase activity and telomere length in acute and chronic leukemia, pre- and post-ex vivo culture[J]. Cancer Res 2000; 60: 610–7.
Ohyashiki JH, Hayashi S, Yahata N, et al. Impaired telomere regulation mechanism by TRF1 (telomere-binding protein), but not TRF2 expression, in acute leukemia cells[J]. Int J Oncol 2001; 18: 593–8.
Ramakrishnan S, Eppenberger U, Mueller H, et al. Expression profile of the putative catalytic subunit of the telomerase gene[J]. Cancer Res 1998; 58: 622–5.
Bodnar AG, Ouellette M, Frolkis M, et al. Extension of life-span by introduction of telomerase into normal human cells[J]. Science 1998; 279: 349–52.
Nakano K, Watney E, McDougall JK. Telomerase activity and expression of telomerase RNA component and telomerase catalytic subunit gene in cervical cancer[J]. Am J Pathol 1998; 153: 854–64.
Chang JT, Chen YL, Yang HT, et al. Differential regulation of telomerase activity by six telomerase subunits[J]. Eur J Biochem 2002; 269: 3442–50.
Xu D, Gruber A, Peterson C, et al. Telomerase activity and the expression of telomerase components in acute myelogenous leukaemia[J]. Br J Haematol 1998; 102: 1367–75.
Blasco MA, Rizen M, Greider CW, et al. Differential regulation of telomerase activity and telomerase RNA during multi-stage tumorigenesis[J]. Nat Genet 1996; 12: 200–4.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Foundation item: This work was supported by the Guangdong Provincial Key Foundation of Science and Technology Program(No. 021195).
Biography: HE Dong-mei(1968–), female, doctor of medicine, associate professor, Jinan University Medical College, majors in gene diagnosis and therapy of leukemia.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
He, Dm., Zhang, H. Telomerase activity and hTERT mRNA expression in acute leukemia. Chin. J. Cancer Res. 16, 289–291 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11670-004-0045-3
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11670-004-0045-3