Abstract
NAD(P)H:quinone acceptor oxidoreductase
(NQO) 1 polymorphism is associated with various
hematological malignancies, especially infant
leukemia or therapy-related leukemias, which
involve the rearrangement of mixed lineage
leukemia (MLL ) gene. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-
transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines (EBVLCLs)
with either of 2 well known polymorphic
variations of C609T and C465T were selected
from our archives of EBV-LCL clones and studied
the induction of p53 expression after DNA
damage. Irradiation of cells with C609T/C609T
polymorphism (NQO1 *2*2) did not affect the
induction of p53 expression. However, irradiation
of cells with C465T/WT polymorphism (NQO1 *1*3)
resulted in attenuation of p53 and p21 induction.
Our results suggest that increased risk of infant
leukemia development in patients with NQO1
*1*3 polymorphism is partially dependent on the
inhibition of p53 pathway, though further studies
are needed to fully understand the pathological
role of C465T variant in the development of
childhood leukemia.
