Methylation Status of SOCS1 and SOCS3 Genes in Patients with Acute Lymphoid Leukemia

Mahsima Shabani; Hanieh Mojtahedi; Maryam Sadr; Arezou Rezaei; Parivash Afradiasbagharani; Golshid Sanati; Zahra Aryan; Farzad Kompani; Nima Rezaei

doi:10.18502/igj.v5i2.15097

Mahsima Shabani International Hematology/Oncology of Pediatrics Experts (IHOPE), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
Hanieh Mojtahedi Molecular Immunology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Maryam Sadr Molecular Immunology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Arezou Rezaei Molecular Immunology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Parivash Afradiasbagharani Molecular Immunology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Golshid Sanati Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Zahra Aryan Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Farzad Kompani Division of Hematology and Oncology, Children's Medical Center, Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Nima Rezaei Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/igj.v5i2.15097

Keywords: ALL; Epigenetic; Leukemia; Methylation; SOCS

Abstract

Background: Acute Lymphoid Leukemia (ALL) is the leading childhood cancer with a high mortality and morbidity. Studies have suggested an association of epigenetic transformations with prognosis, recurrence and immunophenotypes of ALL. SOCS1 and SOCS3 are tumor suppressors inhibiting JAK/STAT signaling pathway and the resultant aberrant cell proliferation.

Method: We aimed to assess the association between methylation status and ALL, using bone marrow and peripheral blood samples. 18 patients with ALL and 13 children with no malignancies were included. Using Bisulfite conversion, quantitative multiplex methylation-specific PCR and 2^(-∆∆Ct) formula, the methylated DNA in the promoters of SOCS1 and SOCS3 were measured.

Results: ALL patients had higher mean methylation in SOCS1 promoter and lower mean methylation in SOCS3 promoter, compared to the control group. However, neither of these mean differences were statistically significant.

Conclusion: This finding can set the foundation for further large-sample studies with the use of healthy children as a control group to strengthen the hypothetical association of the methylation status of SOCS1 and SOCS3 with ALL.