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Expression levels of ASNS in mesenchymal stromal cells in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

International Journal of Hematology volume 99, pages 305–310 (2014)Cite this article

Abstract

Increased levels of asparagine synthetase (ASNS), an enzyme producing intracellular asparagine, have been implicated in the development of asparaginase resistance. The aim of this study was to assess ASNS mRNA and protein expression in bone marrow cell populations of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Bone marrow mononuclear cells at diagnosis, day 33 of treatment, and after completion of chemotherapy were isolated and studied. ASNS mRNA expression was assessed by real-time PCR, and protein levels by Western blot. Our results indicate that MSC ASNS mRNA expression is upregulated in ALL samples compared to controls. ASNS expression of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) was found to be 2.3 times higher than that of blasts at diagnosis of ALL. We also observed that the values of the ASNS mRNA of MSC seem to reach a peak at diagnosis, and tend to decline with treatment. No correlation was found between the ASNS mRNA and protein levels. Chemotherapy does not exert any effect on the protein expression. Variability of asparaginase-induced effect may be attributable to factors involved in the interaction of hematopoietic cells with their microenvironment.

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Acknowledgments

This work was partially supported by a grant from the University of Crete, Special Account for Research (KA 3094).

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The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Medical School, University of Crete, PO 2208, 71003, Heraklion, Crete, Greece

    Helen Dimitriou, Christianna Choulaki, Chryssoula Perdikogianni, Eftichia Stiakaki & Maria Kalmanti

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  1. Helen Dimitriou
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  2. Christianna Choulaki
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  3. Chryssoula Perdikogianni
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  4. Eftichia Stiakaki
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  5. Maria Kalmanti
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Correspondence to Helen Dimitriou.

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Dimitriou, H., Choulaki, C., Perdikogianni, C. et al. Expression levels of ASNS in mesenchymal stromal cells in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Int J Hematol 99, 305–310 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12185-014-1509-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12185-014-1509-y

Keywords

  • Mesenchymal stromal cells
  • Asparagine synthetase
  • Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
  • Children
  • Bone marrow microenvironment