Does the Chemotherapy Protocol Affect CXCL۱۲/CXCR۴ Axes in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients with Monocytic Differentiation?

Background: The CXCR۴ receptor along with CXCL۱۲ is believed to have an effect on the onset, progression, migration, and treatment complications and improve acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treatment outcomes. In this study, we investigated the impact of (۷+۳) chemotherapy protocol on the expression of CXCR۴ and its related ligand CXCL۱۲.Method: In this case-control study, specimens were collected before and after the first cycle of chemotherapy of AML-M۴ and AML-M۵ patients. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and flow cytometry techniques tested the CXCR۴ expression. ELISA was used for measuring the serum level of CXCL۱۲. Two samples, t-test and paired t-test, were utilized for data analysis.Results: We found that CXCR۴ expression by lymphocyte cells after chemotherapy was approximately similar to the CXCR۴ expression in the healthy subjects. Moreover, CXCR۴ expression was high prior to chemotherapy. The serum level of CXCL۱۲ considerably increased in the patients before chemotherapy. However, after chemotherapy, CXCL۱۲ was found to reach the baseline level in comparison to the healthy control group.Conclusion: The (۷+۳) current chemotherapy inhibited CXCL۱۲. Therefore, controlling chemokines along with chemotherapy in AML patients might be conducive to the treatment process or even prevent the relapse of the disease.

Keywords:

Acute myeloid leukemia , Chemotherapy , Chemokine , CXCL۱۲ , CXCR۴