A postgraduate student in the Department of Biotechnology is awarded a Master’s degree for the thesis titled: “Evaluation of the Effect of miRNA-708 on c-FLIPL Expression and Its Relationship with Anti-Cancer Drugs in Leukemia Patients.”
The Department of Biotechnology awarded a Master’s degree to the postgraduate student Jaafar Sadiq Jaafar for his thesis entitled:
“Assessment of the Effect of miRNA-708 on c-FLIPL Expression and Its Relation with Anti-Cancer Drugs in Leukemia Patients.”
The thesis defence was held in the late Professor Dr. Abdul-Muttalib Ibrahim Al-Sheikh Hall at the college building. This study aimed to identify a microRNA capable of inhibiting cancer cell growth and inducing apoptosis through the suppression of c-FLIPL expression. The study included 60 patients diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), aged between 18 and 85 years, in addition to 50 healthy individuals as a control group. Whole blood samples were collected, and total RNA was extracted and converted into cDNA for gene expression analysis of c-FLIPL using qRT-PCR. The study also evaluated the relationship between gene expression and several variables such as age, gender, white blood cell count, haemoglobin level, and platelet count. The results revealed statistically significant differences between patients and healthy individuals in several blood parameters, including haemoglobin, white blood cell count, and platelet count. The gene expression of the anti-apoptotic protein c-FLIPL was significantly higher in newly diagnosed patients (3.291) and those under chemotherapy (2.92) compared to the healthy control group (1.00). Moreover, a significant upregulation of miRNA-708-5p expression was observed in newly diagnosed AML patients (5.345, P = 0.0001), while a marked downregulation was noted in patients undergoing chemotherapy (0.789, P = 0.0001). These results showed high statistical significance when compared to healthy individuals. Regarding miRNA-708-3p, there was a notable decrease in expression in newly diagnosed AML patients (0.576, P = 0.003), as well as in those receiving chemotherapy (0.953, P = 0.003), with statistically significant differences compared to the healthy group. The study also found a strong inverse correlation between c-FLIPL gene expression and miRNA-708-3p (r = –0.253), and a very strong positive correlation between c-FLIPL and miRNA-708-5p (r = 0.544).
The thesis defence committee consisted of:
- Prof. Dr. Intisar Hussein Ali
College of Applied Sciences / Department of Biotechnology – Chair - Prof. Dr. Rima Mohammed Abd Joudah
University of Baghdad / College of Science / Department of Biotechnology – Member - Asst. Prof. Dr. Nawar Baha’ Abdul Sahib
College of Applied Sciences / Department of Biotechnology – Member - Asst. Prof. Dr. Hiba Muneer Abdul Hassan
College of Applied Sciences / Department of Biotechnology – Member and Supervisor - Prof. Dr. Israa Hussein Hamza
Al-Mustansiriyah University / College of Science / Department of Biology – Member and Supervisor
