Differential Expression of SLC25A38 Gene in Patients of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia

Introduction: The SLC25A38 gene produces protein that belongs to the mitochondrial solute carrier family, SLC25. It is implicated in apoptotic pathways, which regulate intrinsic caspase-dependent apoptosis. Aim: To determine level of expression of SLC25A38 gene in patients of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL). Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was done in the Department of Biochemistry, Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Bihar, India, from April 2019 to March 2020. The study included 30 leukaemia patients out of which 25 were adult males and five were adult females and 10 healthy volunteers were included as the control group. Level of expression of SLC25A38 gene normalised to Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate Dehydrogenase (GAPDH) gene relative to normal healthy volunteers among the ALL patients was measured using quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction. All data collected were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16.0 software. Results: An average of 5.3 fold expression of SLC25A38 gene normalised to GAPDH relative to normal healthy volunteer among the ALL patients was seen. The fold of expression was determined by 2-∆∆Ct method. There was a positive correlation between blast cell abundance and level of SLC25A38 gene expression (Pearson’s r=0.408, p=0.025). The expression level was found to be associated with the proportion of blast cells in the bone marrow. Conclusion: High expression of SLC25A38 gene is a common feature in ALL and may be a novel biomarker for prognosis and diagnosis, as well as a potential therapeutic target for ALL.