Differential expression of adhesion molecules in acute leukemia.
Interactions between hematopoietic cells and the stromal microenvironment are mediated by membrane-bound adhesion molecules. As the expression patterns of these molecules may alter the adhesive qualities of leukemic blasts, leukemic samples were investigated for the expression of beta 1-, beta 2-, beta 3-integrins, CD44, the three selectins and several members of the immunoglobulin family. CD44 (167/169), LFA-3 (158/169), the beta 1-integrins VLA-4 (120/123) and VLA-5 (45/51) and the beta 2-integrin LFA-1 (149/157) were found on > 70% of blasts in most cases of leukemias. Other molecules were restricted to specific differentiation stages and lineage. The beta 2-integrins Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18) and gp 150,95 (CD11c/CD18) were preferentially expressed on M4 and M5 subtypes, and NCAM (CD56) was only found on a subset of acute myeloid leukemias (17/113). Unexpectedly, the beta 1-integrins VLA-1 (1/51), VLA-2 (18/123), VLA-3 (5/43), VLA-6 (15/29) and the E-selectin (2/47) were expressed on > 70% blasts on a subset of leukemias of varied phenotype. These molecules were absent on normal CD34+ bone marrow precursors. The simultaneous analysis generally revealed a higher percentage of positive blasts in the blood than in bone marrow. Our observations therefore suggest that in leukemia these antigens are displayed on a non-adherent population that is defective and is unable to convert to an adherent, functionally active conformational state.
Reuss-Borst
M A
MA
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University Clinic, Tübingen, Germany.
Klein
G
G
Waller
H D
HD
Müller
C A
CA
D000208:Acute Disease; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D018952:Antigens, CD34; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000737:chemistry; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D019040:E-Selectin; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D016023:Integrins / Q000032:analysis; D019041:L-Selectin; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D019007:P-Selectin; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000032:analysis; D016201:Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing / Q000032:analysis
D015703:Antigens, CD; D018952:Antigens, CD34; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D019040:E-Selectin; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D016023:Integrins; D019007:P-Selectin; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D016201:Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing; D019041:L-Selectin