OBJECTIVETo detect the mRNA expression levels of TERT and TIN2 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of acquired aplastic anemia(AAA) patients, and to explore their correlation with pathogenesis of acquired aplastic anemia.

METHODSPeripheral blood mononuclear cells of 40 cases of AAA including 33 cases of non-severe aplastic anemia(NSAA), 7 cases of severe aplastic anemia (SAA) and 20 subjects as control group were collected to detect mRNA expression of TERT and TIN2 by using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR), the correlation of TERT and TIN2 mRNA expression levels with classification of peripheral blood cells were analyzed.

RESULTSThe expression levels of TERT and TIN2 mRNA in patients with AAA were lower significantly than those in control group (P<0.05), and the SAA (P<0.01). The expression levels of TERT and TIN2 mRNA in patients with SAA were all lower significantly than those in patients with NSAA (P<0.05). The expression levels of TIN2 mRNA in patients with NSAA were lower significantly than those in control group (P<0.01). There were no significant difference in the expression level of TERT mRNA between patients with NSAA and control group (P=0.082). There was significant correlation between the expression level of TERT mRNA and red blood cells count (r=0.437, P=0.029), and hemoglobin level (r=0.522, P=0.007). There was significant correlation between the expression levels of TIN2 mRNA and the lymphocyte percentage (r=-0.404, P=0.045).

CONCLUSIONThe expression level of TERT mRNA may be associated with the red blood cells and hemoglobin level. The expression level of TIN2 mRNA may be associated with the lymphocyte percentage.