فرهاد ذاکر - Department of Hematology, Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
محمد جعفر شریفی - Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
ناهید نصیری - Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
مرجان یغمایی - Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
سوده نامجو - Department of Hematology, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Background and Aims: Myeloid cell leukemia-۱ (Mcl-۱) plays a pivotal role in the survival of hematologic and solid tumors, and is known as a substantial oncogene. Studies have demonstrated the altered expression of Mcl-۱ has been linked to malignancy development and poor prognosis. In this research, we have studied the expression of Mcl-۱ mRNA in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients and determined association with clinico-pathological factors, MDS subgroups as well as international prognostic scoring system. Materials and Methods: The relative level of Mcl-۱ was determined by real time quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and gene expression normalized to Glyceraldehyde-۳-phosphate dehydrogenase. Results: Results indicated amplification of mRNA encoding Mcl-۱ in ۱۰۰% of the cases. The higher level of Mcl-۱ existed in MDS patients compared with the healthy controls but there was no statistically difference of Mcl-۱ expression between these groups. Fold change in gene expression was higher in advanced stage MDS, high risk MDS, cases with >۵% blast and LDH >۴۰۰ to their corresponding groups. In addition, the correlation between gene expression and cytogenetic prognostic subgroups was statistically significant (p=۰.۰۴۳). Conclusions: In the present study, we showed that Mcl-۱ is expressed in MDS independent of the World Health Organization subgroup and international prognostic scoring system. Therefore, Mcl-۱ may be up-regulated already in early stages of leukemogenesis.

Mcl-۱, Myelodysplastic syndromes, Real time PCR