Expression of minichromosome maintenance 8 in chronic myelogenous leukemia

Objectives: Minichromosome maintenance 8 (MCM8) is identified as an initiating helicase involved in DNA elongation and involved in cancer. However, little information is available for the role of MCM8 on chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). We aimed to explore the expression and effect of MCM8 on CML. Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMC) were prepared from six patients with CML and three healthy individuals. The mRNA levels of MCM8 were determined and compared. The expression of MCM8 was silenced by small interfering RNA (siRNA) approach in human CML cell line K562. After transfection with MCM8 siRNA, cell viability and apoptotic rate were analyzed, as well as the protein expression levels of Caspase-3 and B-cell lymphoma (Bcl)-xL. Results: Relative mRNA levels of MCM8 were both significantly higher in PBMC and BMMC from CML patients than those in healthy individuals (P < 0.05). The cell viability was significantly reduced while the apoptotic rate was statistically increased by knockdown of MCM8 compared to control group or the scramble siRNA group (both P < 0.05). Moreover, the protein expression levels of Caspase-3 were significantly increased (P < 0.05), and while the levels of Bcl-xL were statistically reduced (P < 0.05) compared to the control group or the scramble siRNA group. Conclusion: MCM8 plays a significant role in CML, and knockdown of MCM8 might be a potentially targeted therapy for CML.