Irradiation-induced p53 expression is attenuated in cells with NQO1 C465T polymorphism.

NAD(P)H:quinone acceptor oxidoreductase (NQO) 1 polymorphism is associated with various hematological malignancies, especially infant leukemia or therapy-related leukemias, which involve the rearrangement of mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) gene. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines (EBV-LCLs) with either of 2 well known polymorphic variations of C609T and C465T were selected from our archives of EBV-LCL clones and studied the induction of p53 expression after DNA damage. Irradiation of cells with C609T/C609T polymorphism (NQO1 *2*2) did not affect the induction of p53 expression. However, irradiation of cells with C465T/WT polymorphism (NQO1 *1*3) resulted in attenuation of p53 and p21 induction. Our results suggest that increased risk of infant leukemia development in patients with NQO1 *1*3 polymorphism is partially dependent on the inhibition of p53 pathway, though further studies are needed to fully understand the pathological role of C465T variant in the development of childhood leukemia.