目的：探讨端粒酶活性与pINK4b(p15)基因表达在儿童急性白血病(AL)发病中的关系。方法：采用改良端粒重复序列PCR扩增和逆转录聚合酶链反应检测27例儿童AL骨髓单个核细胞端粒酶活性和p15基因表达情况,并与9例正常骨髓单个核细胞端粒酶活性及p15基因表达进行比较。结果：初诊时,AL患儿骨髓细胞端粒酶活性(34. 5±37. 0)TPG较对照组(2. 4±2. 2 )TPG明显增高(P<0. 001 ); AL患儿p15基因表达水平(9. 8±16. 2)%, 明显低于对照组(45. 8±16. 9)% (P<0. 001 )。AL患儿骨髓细胞端粒酶活性与p15基因表达水平之间无相关关系(r= 0.01304, P> 0. 05)。结论：端粒酶活化和p15基因表达水平降低与急性髓性白血病发展有关,但两者可能通过不同的机制作用于白血病。

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between telomerase activity and p15INK4b (p15) expression in the development of childhood acute leukemia (AL). METHODS: Telomerase activity and p15 expression in bone marrow (BM) of 27 cases of childhood AL were evaluated using a modified telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay and reverse-polymerase chain reaction respectively. For comparative analysis, BM from control donors (n = 9) were analyzed. RESULTS: At diagnosis, the telomerase activity detected in BM from AL children was significantly higher than that from control donors (34.5±37.0 TPG vs 2.4±2.2 TPG, P < 0.001). The p15 expression in BM of AL children was significantly lower than that of the controls (9.8±16.2% vs 45.8±16.9%, P < 0.001). No significant correlation was observed between p15 expression and telomerase activity (r = - 0.01304, P >0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The telomerase up-regulation and lower expression of p15 gene may play an important role in the development of AL by different mechanisms.