OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression and clinical significances of HGFA, Matriptase, HAI-1 and HAI-2 in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

METHODSThe bone marrow samples from 91 AML patients, 41 AML patients in complete remission, and 32 normal controls were collected. Real time fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expressions levels of HGFA, Matriptase, HAI-1, HAI-2 . The expressions of these genes were compared among AML untreated group, the complete remission group and the healthy control group. The correlation of their expression with clinical characteristics was analyzed.

RESULTSThe level of HGFA in the AML untreated group was higher than that in the healthy control group（P<0.05）, while the HAI-2 mRNA level was lower than that in the healthy control group（P<0.05）. The mRNA levels of HAI-1 and Matriptase were not changed significantly in all groups. The HAI-2 mRNA expression level was significantly lower in the high white blood cell group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe abnormal activation of HGF/c-Met signaling system in AML may result from the increase of HGFA expression and the decrease of HAI-2 expression of the upstream regulatory factors.

Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; Proteinase Inhibitory Proteins, Secretory ; Serine Endopeptidases