title: P2X7 receptor expression in evolutive and indolent forms of chronic B lymphocytic leukemia.
abstract: Human leukocytes express a receptor for extracellular nucleotides, named P2X7R, that in lymphocytes can either mediate cell death or proliferation, depending on the level of activation. The authors have investigated P2X7R expression and function in 21 patients affected by B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia, 13 with an evolutive and 8 with an indolent variant of the disease. Resting cytoplasmic Ca++ concentration was significantly higher in lymphocytes from patients with the evolutive compared with indolent variant. Furthermore, in the former, P2X7R stimulation triggered a Ca++ influx significantly larger. Higher Ca++ influx correlated with an increased P2X7R expression in the lymphocytes from patients with the evolutive form. Finally, incubation in the presence of extracellular adenosine triphosphate decreased spontaneous proliferation of lymphocytes from patients affected with the evolutive variant but had no effects on lymphocytes from patients with the indolent form. These results suggest that expression and function of P2X7R may correlate with the severity of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine, Section of Medical Genetics and General Pathology, University of Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Adinolfi
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Melchiorri
authors.forename: Simonetta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Falzoni
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chiozzi
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morelli
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tieghi
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cuneo
authors.forename: Gianluigi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Castoldi
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Virgilio
authors.forename: Olavio R
authors.initials: OR
authors.lastname: Baricordi
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D015973:Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D058486:Receptors, Purinergic P2X7; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; C546468:P2RX7 protein, human; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2; D058486:Receptors, Purinergic P2X7; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate