Conclusion
Most AML cell lines and human AML samples have very low levels of expression of ID1. TSA or TSA in combination with DAC is able to restore ID1 expression in low ID1-expressing AML cell lines by re-activating the aberrantly deacetylated promoter, and this also results in more apoptotic cell death, in which ID1 and the redox pathway may be involved.
Results
We investigated mRNA levels of ID1 in human myeloid leukaemic cell lines and in specimens of patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), using semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and protein levels of ID1 in human myeloid leukaemic cell lines using Western blot analysis. Six of seven AML cell lines and 12 of 15 AML patient samples were found to have barely detectable ID1 mRNA. All of these cell lines showed the same levels of protein in proportion to levels of mRNA. Two of the AML cell lines with low ID1 expression, KG1 and KG-1a, were chosen for treatment with either the DNA demethylation reagent, 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (DAC), or the histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, trichostatin A (TSA). These treatments were alone or in combination, and ID1 expression was induced by both DAC and TSA. No hypermethylated ID1 gene promoter was detected in the majority of the cell lines and patient specimens, by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction, suggesting that induction of ID1 in KG1 and KG-1a was not due to direct demethylation of the ID1 gene promoter. Chromatin immunoprecipitation showed that accumulation of acetyl-histone H3 and release of HDAC1 were correlated with ID1 induction by these drugs. Flow cytometric assay demonstrated more apoptosis induced by TSA or TSA in combination with DAC, in both KG-1 and KG-1a cell lines. Increase of intracellular reactive oxygen species was observed when treated with TSA.