Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Homeobox B4 (HOXB4) gene not only promotes amplification of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and activation and expression of its function, but also in vivo test suggested that HOXB4 cannot induce leukemia. Therefore, to study HOXB4 changes and effects in proliferation and differentiation of HSCs provide theoretical basis for HSCs amplification.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the expression of HOXB4 gene in the proliferation and differentiation of HSCs into lymphocyte progenitor cells, and analyze the effects of all-train retinoic acid (ATRA) on HOXB4 gene.
METHODS: Lymphocyte hematopoietic progenitor cells were divided into two groups. In ATRA group, 6×10-8 mol/L ATRA was added in the culture system. In normal group, an equal volume of 1640 medium was added in the culture system. The colony growth of colony forming unit-lymphocyte in the differentiation progress of the HSCs to lymphocyte progenitor cells induced by phytohemagglutinin was observed on days 3, 7 and 12 following culture. Expression of HOXB4 gene in the proliferation and differentiation of the HSCs into lymphocyte progenitor cells in vitro was detected using real-time fluorescence quantitive polymerase chain reaction.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: HOXB4 gene has a regulatory function in the differentiation progress of the HSCs into lymphocyte progenitor cells. The expression of HOX B4 gene was diminished gradually in normal and ATRA groups over time. Compared with the normal group, HOXB4 gene was up-regulated in the ATRA group.