[The Genome-Wide Changes in Expression Profile of CML T Cells After Up-regulation of TCRζ Chain Expression]

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the changes in the gene expression profile of T cells in CML patients after TCRζ up-regulation expression, and to explore the molecular mechanism of T cell reactivation after transgenic up-regulation of TCRζ.

Methods: The peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs) from 3 newly untreated chronic-stage CML patients were collected, and the CD3⁺ T cells were obtained by MACS method. The TCRζ-IRES2-EGFP (experimental group) and pIRES2-EGFP (control group) plasmids were transfected into T cells by nuclear transfection technique. The gene expression profiles of CML T cells up-regulated TCRζ chain and control cells were detected by Affymetrix GeneChip Human Gene 2.0 ST Array. The differentially expressed genes were analyzed by GO functional annotation analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis.

Results: A total of 2248 differentially-expressed genes were obtained, including 553 up-regulated genes and 1695 down-regulated genes in experimental group as compared with those in control group (P<0.05) . The GO and KEGG enrichment analyses showed that differentially expressed genes involved in the biological processes related to T cell immune function, such as TCR signaling pathway, T cell proliferation and activation. Some of core genes involved in promoting the TCR signaling pathway, T cell proliferation, activation and apoptosis pathways were significantly up-regulated, while some core genes involved in inhibiting T cell activation were significantly down-regulated.

Conclusion: The molecular mechanism of the significantly improved T cell activation and proliferation ability in CML patients after TCRζ up-regulation may be related to the differential transcripts mediated signaling pathways of T cell activation, proliferation and apoptosis.