Methylation status of SOCS1 and SOCS3 genes in patients with acute
lymphoid leukemia: A case-control study
Abstract
Objective: Acute Lymphoid Leukemia (ALL) is the leading childhood cancer
with 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. We aimed to assess the methylated status of these genes
in patients with ALL, using bone marrow and peripheral blood samples.
Materials and Methods: 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 the control
group to strengthen the hypothetical association of the methylation
status of SOCS1 and SOCS3 with ALL.