title: Evidence for a role of TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) in the anemia of myelodysplastic syndromes.
abstract: Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are characterized by impaired erythropoiesis, possibly caused by proapoptotic cytokines. We focused our study on the cytokine TRAIL (TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand), which has been shown to exhibit an anti-differentiation activity on erythroid maturation. Immunocytochemical analysis of bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMC) showed an increased expression of TRAIL in MDS patients with respect to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients and normal BM donors. TRAIL expression was increased predominantly in myeloid precursors of granulocytic lineage and in a subset of monocytes and pro-erythroblasts. Significant levels of soluble TRAIL were released in 21 of 68 BMMC culture supernatants from MDS patients. On the other hand, TRAIL was detected less frequently in the culture supernatants of AML (4 of 33) and normal BMMC (0 of 22). Analysis of peripheral blood parameters revealed significantly lower levels of peripheral red blood cells and hemoglobin in the subset of patients whose BMMC released TRAIL in culture supernatants compared to the subgroup of patients who did not release TRAIL. Moreover, TRAIL-positive BMMC culture supernatants inhibited the differentiation of normal glycophorin A+ erythroblasts generated in serum-free liquid phase. Thus, increased expression and release of TRAIL at the bone marrow level is likely to impair erythropoiesis and to contribute to the degree of anemia, the major clinical feature of MDS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology and Embryology, Human Anatomy Section, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 66, 44100 Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Campioni
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Secchiero
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Corallini
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Melloni
authors.forename: Silvano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Capitani
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lanza
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zauli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000740:Anemia / Q000209:etiology*; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017209:Apoptosis; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned / Q000494:pharmacology; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006021:Glycophorins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000097:blood; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D008024:Ligands; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D006021:Glycophorins; D008024:Ligands; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; C505653:TNFSF10 protein, human; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha