title: Which progenitor is the target cell in the development of acute promyelocytic leukemia?
abstract: Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is characterized by the t(15;17) which involves the PML gene and the retinoic acid receptor alpha (RAR alpha) gene, and the subsequent PML/RAR alpha fusion gene is a key event in the leukemogenesis of APL. We found that the PML/RAR alpha fusion gene was expressed in both granulocytic/macrophage and erythroid colonies in a few patients with APL. In some instances of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), erythrocytes or platelets also expressed the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) isoenzymes which were detected in the leukemic cells. Some APL cells show basophilic and monocytoid differentiation and these findings suggest that the leukemic precursor of APL is derived from a more primitive cell stage than the promyelocyte. The precursor cells appear to be derived from heterogeneous levels.
authors.affiliation: Third Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takatsuki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Umemura
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nawata
mesh_terms: D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D015473:Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid / Q000235:genetics; D000072482:Retinoic Acid Receptor alpha
chemical_list: C000607071:RARA protein, human; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D000072482:Retinoic Acid Receptor alpha