Research Article

Low Autophagy (ATG) Gene Expression Is Associated with an Immature AML Blast Cell Phenotype and Can Be Restored during AML Differentiation Therapy

Figure 2

Autophagy- (ATG-) related gene expression is frequently inhibited in clinical AML samples. Primary AML blasts were isolated using a Ficoll gradient; total RNA was extracted; and ATG gene mRNA levels during autophagy initiation (a), nucleation (b), ATG12- (c), and LC3 (d) conjugation phases were quantified by qPCR. Measured cycle threshold (Ct) values represent log2 expression levels. Values were normalized to the expression levels of the housekeeping genes HMBS and ABL1. Mann–Whitney U test, , , , .