DNMTs‐mediated SOCS3 methylation promotes the occurrence and development of AML

Abstract Objectives As a tumor suppressor gene, SOCS3 inhibits the growth of tumor cells by regulating JAK/STAT signaling pathway through negative feedback. This study aimed to investigate the biological function and mechanism of SOCS3 methylation mediated by DNMTs in the development of AML. Methods Bone marrow samples were collected from 70 AML patients and 20 healthy volunteers. The expression and methylation status of each gene were detected by RT‐qPCR, western blot and MS‐PCR, and the growth and apoptosis rate of leukemia cell lines were detected by CCK‐8 and flow cytometry. The effects of changes in SOCS3 gene expression and methylation status of AML cell lines were observed by gene transfection and gene knockdown. Results The methylation rate of SOCS3 in AML initial treatment group was significantly higher than that in the remission group and the normal control group (60% vs. 0%, 0%). The expression of SOCS3 in the SOCS3 methylation group was significantly lower than that in the non‐methylated group and control group, while the expression of DNMT1, DNMT3a, p‐JAK2, p‐STAT3 and p‐STAT5 were significantly higher than those in the non‐methylated group and control group. Demethylation treatment, SOCS3 transfection and DNMT3a knockdown could up‐regulate the expression of SOCS3, which decreased the proliferation and increased the apoptosis of leukemia cell lines. Conclusion SOCS3 methylation mediated by DNMTs promotes the occurrence and development of AML and can be used as a potential biomarker for the diagnosis and efficacy evaluation of AML.