Role of Autophagy in the Myelodysplastic Syndrome and Myeloproliferative Disorders

Abstract

Objective: Modulation of autophagy is a promising potential strategy enhancing cancer therapy, especially
after development of new autophagy inhibitors. We planned to assess the role of autophagy in Myelodysplastic
syndrome (MDS) and Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs).
Design: Case controlled single center study.
Setting: Internal medicine department, Minia University Hospital, Minia, Egypt.
Subjects: A total of 70 subjects divided into two groups: group I: 35 newly diagnosed patients with MDS
and MPNs and group II: 35 apparently normal individuals.
Intervention: Serum beclin-1 (S.BECN 1) and Serum autophagy protein 7(S. Atg-7) were measured in both
groups.
Main Outcome Measure: We considered the following parameters: demographic data, bone marrow
examination, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly and laboratory investigations in both patients and control group
including beclin1 and Atg7.
Results: By comparingserum beclin1 level in the two groups: patients group showed that themean and SDof
both S. beclin land S. Atg-7were much higher than the control group. This shows highly significant P value
<0.001*.
Conclusion: Measurement of high level of S.BECN 1 and S. Atg 7 in MDS and MPNs indicate that they
may be autophagy-dependent markers and it may be modifiable factors through its inhibition or induction.