Expression of miR-652-3p and Effect on Apoptosis and Drug Sensitivity in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) expression profiles were screened in plasma samples from pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and healthy controls, using qRT-PCR-based TaqMan low-density miRNA arrays. MiR-652-3p (a circulating miRNA) was downregulated in new diagnosis (ND) patients compared with healthy controls. The levels of miR652-3p were restored in complete remission (CR) but were downregulated again in disease relapse (RE). The expression pattern of miR-652-3p was validated in bone marrow (BM) samples from other pediatric ALL patients. MiR-652-3p was significantly upregulated in BM when the patients (n=86) achieved CR, as compared with the matched ND samples (p<0.001). Moreover, the miR-652-3p levels in BM decreased again in two patients at RE. In addition, the lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines Reh and RS4:11 were found to have lower levels of miR-625-3p than the normal B-cell line. Overexpression of miR-652-3p using agomir increased the sensitivity to vincristine and cytarabine (all p<0.05) and promoted apoptosis (both p<0.05) in Reh and RS4:11 cells. In conclusion, the results suggested that a low level of miR-652-3p might be involved in the pathogenesis of pediatric ALL. Overexpression of miR-652-3p might suppress lymphoblastic leukemia cells, promoting apoptosis and increasing sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs.