Condensin expression pattern in acute myeloid leukemia

Introduction Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is a hematopoietic malignancy caused by molecular alterations. Condensins play a role in numerous types of human malignancies. The current study aims to explore the expression pattern of condensin in AML and to find any impact on patient outcomes. Patients and methods The study was performed on 40 newly diagnosed AML cases and 15 apparently healthy donors for normalization. Multiplex PCR was performed to detect the expression status of condensin in AML patients. Results SMC4 and NCAPG gene expression was not detectable in either patient or control groups. The remaining condensin genes (SMC2, NCAPH, NCAPH2, NCAPD2, NCAPD3, and NCAPG2) showed a significantly lower level of positive expression in the patient group versus the control group and we found an unexpected extra band with an amplicon size of similar to 300 bp in 10 (25%) patients. Conclusion There is marked downregulation of condensin genes, and a high mutation rate of the SMC4 gene in AML. This study raises the possibility of alternative homodimerization of SMC genes rather than the postulated heterodimerization model necessary for core formation of the condensin pentamer. It also raises the possibility of the presence of a coordinated expression between the eight condensin genes.