OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study was to detect the expression level of autophagy related gene BECLIN-1 and the number of autophagic vacuoles in bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNC) from myelodysplastic syndrome(MDS) patients and to explore their difference in different stage of MDS and relationship between their difference and disease characteristics.

METHODSThe BMMNC from 9 normal controls, 19 cases of low-risk MDS, 14 cases of high-risk MDS and 7 cases of MDS-transformed AML were collected. The expression level of BECLIN-1 was detected by real time PCR (RT-PCR) and the amount of autophagic vacuoles was counted by transmission electron microscopy.

RESULTSThe expression level of BECLIN-1 in BMMNC from patients with low-risk group was obviously higher than that in BMMNC from normal controls; the expression level of BECLIN-1 in BMMNC from patients of hgh risk group was higher than that in BMMNC of normal group, but there was no statistical significance (P > 0.05); the expression level of BECLIN-1 in BMMNC from patients with MDS-transformed AML group was significanly lower than that in BMMNC of normal group (P < 0.05). Transinission electron microscopy showed that the amount of autophagic vacuoles in BMMNC from patients with low-risk and high-risk MDS groups was more than that in normal control, but there was no stetistcal significance (P > 0.05), while the amount of autopuagic vecuoles in BMMNC from patients of MDS-transformed AML group was significantly less (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe expression of BECLIN-1 and the number of autophagic vacuoles in BMMNC from patients with MDS progression and patients with MDS-transformed AML are gradually declining. The autophagy may be associated with disease progression.