Interleukin-3 receptor in acute leukemia.
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.
Testa
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U
Department of Hematology and Oncology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, Italy. u.testa@iss.it
Riccioni
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R
Diverio
D
D
Rossini
A
A
Lo Coco
F
F
Peschle
C
C
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*
C115022:IL3RA protein, human; D053650:Interleukin-3 Receptor alpha Subunit; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D016185:Receptors, Interleukin-3