A genetic variant in miR-100 is a protective factor of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

BACKGROUND: In the past decade, miR-100, miR-146a, and miR-210 were reported to be dysregulated in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, effects of genetic variants in these three microRNAs have not been investigated in Chinese population. METHODS: In this study, we conducted a case-control study to evaluate the relationship between genetic variants in miR-100, miR-146a, and miR-210 and the risk of childhood ALL in Chinese population. Subsequently, plasma expression level of miR-100 was also detected. RESULT: We found that subjects carrying mutant homozygous TT genotype of miR-100 rs543412 had a statistically significantly decreased risk of childhood ALL (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 0.73, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.55-0.97, P = 0.029). This protective effect was also observed among subjects whose parents were ever drinkers (adjusted OR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.29-0.94), or whose living house were ever painted (adjusted OR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.34-0.94). Besides, rs543412 variant homozygous TT had a significantly protective role in patients with childhood B-ALL. Finally, we found that expression level of miR-100 in plasma of childhood ALL cases was significantly higher than that of noncancer controls. CONCLUSION: Our study suggested that there was significant association between the polymorphisms in miR-100 (rs543412) and decreased susceptibility to childhood ALL.