Abstract. The long non-coding RNA, HOX transcript antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR), has been indicated to have involvement in a number of cancers, however, its role in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is unknown. The present study aimed to investigate the pattern of HOTAIR expression in AML and to evaluate its clinical significance in tumor progression. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed to examine the HOTAIR expression in mononuclear cells from the bone marrow (BM) or peripheral blood specimens of 85 patients with newly diagnosed AML. The association of HOTAIR expression with the clinicopathological factors and prognosis of AML patients was statistically analyzed. The expression of HOTAIR was significantly upregulated in the AML patients compared with the healthy controls (mean expression value, 3.87±0.29 vs. 1.28±0.09; P<0.001), and markedly decreased in the patients post-treatment compared with pre-treatment (4.76±0.47 vs. 2.81±0.27; P<0.001). Moreover, high levels of HOTAIR were associated with higher white blood cell and BM blast counts (P<0.001 and P=0.001, respectively), and lower hemoglobin and platelet counts (P=0.007 and 0.001, respectively). Patients with a high level of HOTAIR expression had relatively poor overall survival (OS; 20.5 vs. 32.1 months, P=0.001) and relapse-free survival (21.5 vs. 33.6 months, P=0.001) times compared with those with a low level of HOTAIR expression. These data demonstrated that HOTAIR expression was upregulated in newly diagnosed AML patients and was associated with leukemic burden, and DFS and OS times. HOTAIR may represent a biomarker of a poor prognosis and is a potential therapeutic target for AML treatment.

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ObjectiveTo determine the relationship of cytokine/chemokine expression with the clinical presentation of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD).ResultsAll cytokine/chemokine levels were higher in severe HFMD patients than in mild HFMD patients or controls (P < 0.01). RANTES, MCP-1, IL-4, IL-12 and IL-18 levels were higher in mild HFMD patients than in the controls (P < 0.05). In severe HFMD, all levels (except IL-8 and IL-4) were higher in patients with encephalitis plus pulmonary edema than in those with encephalitis alone (P < 0.05). All levels (except IL-8) were higher in EV71-positive patients than in EV71-negative patients (P < 0.05). In mild HFMD, all levels (except IL-8 and IL-4) were higher in EV71-positive patients than in EV71-negative patients (P < 0.05). In severe HFMD, only RANTES, IP-10 and IFN-γ levels were higher in EV71-positive patients than in EV71-negative patients (P < 0.05). In the EV71-negative group, all levels were higher in severe HFMD than in mild HFMD (P < 0.01). In the EV71-positive group, all levels (except IL-8) were higher in severe HFMD than in mild HFMD (P < 0.01).Materials and MethodsThis study involved 28 mild HFMD patients, 44 severe HFMD patients and 26 healthy children. Venous blood was tested for cytokines (IL-4, IL-12, IL-18, TNF-α, IFN-γ) and chemokines (IL-8, RANTES, MCP-1, IP-10). Stool samples from the patients were tested for EV71 nucleic acid using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.ConclusionsCytokines/chemokines participate in HFMD pathogenesis, and could have potential value in monitoring disease progression and predicting prognosis.

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