title: Beta-1-integrin expression in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia: possible relationship with the stem cell antigen CD34.
abstract: In the hemopoietic system, interactions between stem cells and components of the bone marrow microenvironment play a pivotal role in blood cell proliferation and differentiation. Among the adhesion molecules, the integrins of the beta 1-subfamily are known to direct cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions and evidence has been provided that CD34-positive stem cells bind either to the bone marrow stroma or to the extracellular matrix proteins through the beta 1-integrins. It seems that changes in their expression pattern or signalling function are likely to reflect disturbances at the hemopoietic bone marrow microenvironmental level. Any alteration of their biological functions makes them attractive candidates for playing decisive roles in the leukemic processes. In this view, beta 1-integrins have been recognized to mediate those cellular interactions and migrations that are important in the biology of leukemia. In this paper we review some aspects of the role played by beta 1-integrins, especially VLA-4 and VLA-5, in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia in relation with the expression rate of the stem cell antigen CD34.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hematology, University of Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Cacciola
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stagno
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Impera
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Assisi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cacciola
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guglielmo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002455:Cell Division; D002465:Cell Movement; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D039041:Integrin alpha4beta1; D019012:Integrin beta1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D016023:Integrins / Q000502:physiology; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D017469:Receptors, Fibronectin / Q000502:physiology; D016201:Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing / Q000502:physiology; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D039041:Integrin alpha4beta1; D019012:Integrin beta1; D016023:Integrins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D017469:Receptors, Fibronectin; D016201:Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1