Diagnostic significance of microRNA-100 and -196b as blood markers for acute lymphoblastic leukemia among children

Article history: Received 15 September 2019 Accepted 21 October 2019 The present study was undertaken to investigate the relative expression levels of miRNA-100 and -196b in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and its phenotypes. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PMNCs) were isolated from peripheral blood samples of 40 pediatric ALL patients and 10 healthy controls. We assessed the expression levels of miRNA-100 and -196b by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay. A significant upregulation in the expression levels of miRNA-100 and -196b in ALL patients is reported, compared to the normal controls. T-ALL patients manifested a higher expression of miRNA-100 and-196b than those with pre-B-ALL and biphenotypic ALL. MiRNA-100 and -196b distinguished ALL patients from the normal controls at cut-off values 6.54 (92.5 % sensitivity, 100 % specificity) and 5.49 (92.5 % sensitivity, 100 % specificity), respectively. As well, miRNA-100 and -196b discriminated between the different ALL phenotypes with high sensitivity, specificity and accuracy levels. Two correlation coefficients are herein reported including a significant positive correlation between miRNA-100 and -196b expression levels (r = 0.328, p < 0.05) and a significant negative correlation between miRNA-100 expression level and the platelets count (r = -0.448, p < 0.01) in ALL patients. Our findings concluded that miRNA-100 and -196b could be considered as good noninvasive blood biomarkers for the diagnosis of ALL, and in distinguishing its phenotypes.