Evi-1 and MDS1-Evi-1 genes in pathogenesis of myelodysplastic syndromes and post-MDS acute myeloid leukemia

Objective To investigate expression of Evi-1 and MDS1-Evi-1 genes in myelod ysplastic syndromes (MDS) and post-MDs acute myeloid leukemia (post-MDS AML ), and its role in pathogenesis sor progression of MDS and post-MDs AML. Methods Expression of Evi-1 and MDS1-Evi-1 genes was examined in 31 MDS, 11 post-MDS AML, and 34 de novo AML patients by a semi-quantitative reverse t ranscription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results Evi-1 expression was not detected in bone marrow samples of 8 norma l controls, but low MDS1-Evi-1 expression levels (MDS1-EVi-1/GAPDH < 0.1) w ere detected in 3 of the 8 controls. Evi-1 RNA was expressed in 1 of 8 RA, 8 of 13 RAEB and 6 of 9 RAEB-T patients, and the percentage of Evi-1 expres sion in RAEB(T) patients was higher than that in RA (P<0.05). MDS1-Evi-1 ex pression was detected in 5 of 8 RA, 9 of 13 RAEB and 5 of 9 RAEB-T patients , and MDS1-Evi-1 expression levels (MDS1-Evi-1/GAPDH > 0.1) were markedly h igher than those in the controls. Evi-1 expression was gradually increased in 4 of 5 RAEB-T patients with transformation from MDS to AML. The percenta ges of Evi-1 and MDS1-Evi-1 expression in post-MDS AML patients were signif icantly (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05 respectively) higher than those in de novo A ML. The colonies of hematopoietic Progenitor cells were decreased in Evi-1 and MDS1-Evi-1-positive MDS patients as compared with those in Evi-1 and MD S1-Evi-1-negative patients. Conclusion Abnormal expression of the Evi-1 gene and overexpression of MDS1 -EVi-1 gene may play a role in the pathogenesis or progression of MDS and p ost-MDS AML.