Significance of DNA methylation status of Runx3 gene promoter region in childhood acute leukemia

Objective The study was aimed to explore the relationship between patterns of methylation and the development of acute leukemia,and to further clarify the possible mechanism in the development of childhood acute leukemia.Methods Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction(MSP)was adopted to analyze Runx3 gene methylation in 82 acute leukemia patients,with different subtypes and stages,and 16 controls as well as HL60,MOLT4,Jurkat and U937 cell lines;the expression of Runx3 gene was detected with reverse transcription polymerase.Results There was no methylation of Runx3 gene in the controls while expression of Runx3 gene could be detected;the cell lines showed both methylation bands and unmethylation bands;the rate of Runx3 gene methylation was 39.0%in 82 acute leukemia patients,which was higher than the controls,the difference in methylation for Runx3 between them being statistically significant(P 0.05).While methylation rate in acute lymphoblastic leukemia was 41.4%,acute myelogenous leukemia was 33.3%,showing that there was no significant difference between them(P 0.05).Patients without methylation of Runx3 gene had a higher complete remission rate of first chemotherapy than those with methylation of Runx3 gene.Conclusion The methylation of Runx3 gene promoter may play a role in the pathogenesis of AL and may have clinical significance in predicting prognosis of AL.