title: Interleukin-3 receptor in acute leukemia.
abstract: Recent studies indicate that abnormalities of the interleukin-3 receptor (IL-3R) are frequently observed in acute myeloid leukemias (AMLs) and may contribute to the proliferative advantage of leukemic blasts. This review analyzes the evidences indicating that the IL-3R represents one of the target molecules involved in the stimulation of proliferation of AMLs, and the overexpression of the IL-3Ralpha chain may represent one of the mechanisms contributing to the development of a highly malignant leukemic phenotype. Furthermore, there is evidence that the IL-3Ralpha is a marker of leukemic stem cells, at variance with normal stem cells that are IL-3Ralpha-. Finally, the IL-3R may represent an important target for the development of new antileukemic drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Oncology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, Italy. u.testa@iss.it
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Testa
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Riccioni
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Diverio
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rossini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lo Coco
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peschle
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D053650:Interleukin-3 Receptor alpha Subunit; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016185:Receptors, Interleukin-3 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C115022:IL3RA protein, human; D053650:Interleukin-3 Receptor alpha Subunit; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D016185:Receptors, Interleukin-3