Studying the Role of Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (TERT) in the Regulation of Some Genes Expression in AML

Abstract

Acute myeloid leukemia is the most common type of acute leukemia in adults with the lowest survival rates of all leukemia types. In fact, the interesting role of the TGF-β in leukemogenesis is an important research pivot. Interestingly, resistance to homeostatic effects of TGF- β develops through decreased expression of TGF-β receptors on the cell surface or repression of TGF-signaling by oncoproteins. Surprisingly, despite the accumulating knowledge regarding TGF-ß resistance in several cancers, the mechanisms are still poorly understood.

An important TGF-β antagonist is the BAMBI that is a pseudo-receptor related to TGF-β receptor type I, but lacks an intracellular kinase domain. Hence, it acts as a decoy hampering TGF signaling. However, the expression levels and the potential clinical and prognostic role of BAMBI in AM still remain unclear.

Another important TGF-β signaling antagonist is SMAD7; an inhibitory SMAD that works in a negative feedback loop to inhibit the TGF-β signaling. However, till today its expression level in AML patients is not widely reported. Interestingly, it has been found that BAMBI forms a complex with SMAD7, so it is proposed that BAMBI