Low Zip 4 gene expression levels in RPMI - 8226 and ARH - 77 cell lines support the possible role of zip 4 transporter protein in plasma cell tumorogenesis

Aim. Multiple myeloma and plasma cell leukemia are cancers of plasma cells. Multiple myeloma rarely transforms to plasma cell leukemia during the progression period. Zinc as a chemical element modulates proliferation and differentiation of cells by affecting several growth factors. Zip 4 modifies zinc metabolism in a cell as a transporter protein. While high Zip 4 gene expression was found in pancreas and hepatocellular carcinoma, low Zip 4 gene expression was observed in prostate carcinoma. Methods. Here, Zip 4 expression levels were studied in RPMI - 8226 and ARH - 77 cell lines as examples of multiple myeloma and plasma cell leukemia, respectively. Results. We found lower Zip 4 gene expression levels in both cell lines than that of the normal control (0,000157 in RPMI - 8226, 0,000227 in ARH - 77 cell lines and 1 in normal control) The findings were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The expression levels of Zip 4 gene in both cell lines were approximately similar. No statistical significance was found between the expression levels of Zip 4 in both cell lines (P = 0.547). Conclusion. The results of this study support the possible role of Zip 4 gene expression in plasma cell dyscrasias. The similar result of Zip 4 gene expression level in both cell lines may show that Zip 4 has no role in the transformation of multiple myeloma to plasma cell leukemia.