c-kit gene expression in CD7-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia: close correlation with expression of myeloid-associated antigen CD13.
Expression of human c-kit proto-oncogene and interleukin-7 receptor (IL-7R) in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells expressing CD7 was examined by Northern-blot analysis and reversed transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay in relation to the phenotypes. Leukemic cells from four out of 12 CD7+ ALL patients, all of which fulfilled the criteria of ALL in the FAB classification, expressed c-kit genes. Surface CD3 (sCD3) was absent in all of these cases, while cytoplasmic CD3 (cCD3) was found in the two sCD3- cases. CD3 epsilon transcripts were detected in one of the sCD3- cCD3- cases. IL-7R genes were transcribed in the three cases with c-kit gene expression. In addition, there was a good correlation between c-kit gene expression and myeloid associated antigen CD13 positivity of the leukemic cells. None of the patients with c-kit gene expression had mediastinal tumor. Our results show that leukemic cells in a proportion of CD7+ ALL express receptors for cytokines that are secreted by bone marrow stromal cells. Ligands for c-kit genes and IL-7 could play an important role for the regulation of proliferation and differentiation of T-cell progenitors in bone marrow.
Nishii
K
K
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Mie University School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan.
Kita
K
K
Miwa
H
H
Kawakami
K
K
Nakase
K
K
Masuya
M
M
Morita
N
N
Omay
S B
SB
Otsuji
N
N
Fukumoto
M
M
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D019011:Antigens, CD7; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000378:metabolism*; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018826:CD13 Antigens; D017252:CD3 Complex; D015870:Gene Expression; D005796:Genes; D006801:Humans; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000235:genetics*; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000235:genetics; D020395:Receptors, Interleukin-7
D015703:Antigens, CD; D019011:Antigens, CD7; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D017252:CD3 Complex; C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D020395:Receptors, Interleukin-7; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; D018826:CD13 Antigens