AID expression is correlated with Bcr-Abl expression in CML-LBC and can be down-regulated by As2O3 and/or imatinib.

Abstract Activation-induced deaminase (AID), a cytidine deaminase, can accelerate the acquisition of BCR-ABL1 kinase domain mutations in human CML. In the present study, we investigated the expression of AID and Bcr-Abl in CML cells derived from 35 clinical patients. We found that both AID and Bcr-Abl were correlatively over-expressed in CML-LBC (lymphoid blast crisis) cells as compared with those in CML-CP (chronic phase) cells. AID expression was significantly decreased in CML-LBC cells after treated with arsenic trioxide, especially together with imatinib. We also observed satisfied therapy effects of As 2 O 3 and imatinib on patients with CML blast crisis. These data suggest that decreasing AID expression in CML-LBC by As 2 O 3 may be a promising approach to CML treatment.