MiR-155 is involved in various physiological processes in the cell, including hematopoiesis, immunity, inflammation and differentiation. Increased expression of miR-155 is observed in many malignant diseases, including lymphomas, acute myeloid leukemia and CLL. However, a comparative study of the miR-155 expression in the blood leukocytes in patients with chronic myeloid and lymphoproliferative diseases has not yet been carried out. To investigate the expression of miR-155 in the blood cells of patients with lympho- and ph-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms. MiR-155 expression were studied in the blood leukocytes of 28 patients with B-CLL, 52 patients with MPN and 51 donors by "real time" PCR method. The study revealed an increase in miR-155 in blood leukocytes in both patients with CLL and patients with MPN compared with the control group. In accordance with the results of the ROC analysis, the sensitivity and specificity of blood leukocytes testing on miR-155 expression level was 81.8% and 78.4%, respectively, for CLL and 55.1% and 82.4%, respectively, for MPN. At the same time, in patients with CLL who received therapy, the level of miR-155 was significantly lower compared with those who did not receive therapy. Thus, the involvement of miR-155 in the pathogenesis of chronic myeloid and lymphoproliferative diseases was demonstrated.
Keywords: chronic lymphocytic leukemia; chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms; miR-155.