Background: The Ten-Eleven Translocation 1 gene (TET1) is a member of the TET methyl cytosine dioxygenase family of enzymes (TET1, TET2, and TET3). TET1 has contrasting roles in myeloid and lymphoid transformation being either an oncogene or a tumor suppressor. This work aimed to study the expression level of the TET1 gene in acute leukemia patients and its correlation with the clinical and pathological criteria of these patients.
Methods: This study was conducted on 73 acute leukemia patients. Bone marrow samples were analyzed using Real-Time PCR 7500s.
Results: There was a significant correlation between the expression levels of TET 1 gene in acute leukemia patients and their clinical and pathological criteria. It has been found that expression levels of TET1 gene in patients' samples were higher in AML, not otherwise specified (NOS), and T lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma patients and lower in B lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma, NOS patients. Besides, this study showed a significant relation between TET1 gene and the percentage of blast cells in peripheral blood (P.B), bone marrow (B.M) and generalized lymphadenopathy. In AML patients, the higher percent of blast cells was associated with the upregulated TET1 gene, while TET1expression was decreased in patients with enlarged lymph nodes. However, in B-ALL patients, the TET1 expression level was significantly lower in patients with a high percent of blast cells in P.B and B.M, generalized lymphadenopathy, and fever.
Conclusion: The TET1 gene has dual roles in myeloid and lymphoid leukemia even within lymphoid leukemia. TET1 exerts an oncogenic role in AML and T-ALL in contrast to its tumor suppressor role in B-ALL, thus rendering TET1 a potential target for treating this form of hematopoietic malignancy.