title: Leukemic lymphoblasts, a novel expression site of coagulation factor XIII subunit A.
abstract: Blood coagulation factor XIII (FXIII) is a protransglutaminase circulating as a tetramer formed by two types of subunits (A2B2). The intracellular dimeric form of FXIII (A2) is present in platelets, megakaryocytes, monocytes and macrophages and has been detected in mono- and megakaryocytic leukemias. The aim of our study was to investigate FXIII-A expression in newly diagnosed B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) samples. We examined 47 de novo ALL cases of B cell origin by triple color labeling with flow cytometry. FXIII-A was detected by a FITC conjugated monoclonal antibody combined with CD34 and CD45 staining. In selected cases FXIII-A was investigated on slides prepared from blasts and visualized with a fluorescent microscope. In addition, blasts were studied by Western blot analysis and FXIII-A was measured by a highly sensitive ELISA method. By flow cytometry 19 samples of the 47 cases were found to be FXIII-A positive. Antigen concentration was 3.11 +/- 1.19 fg/blast, while normal lymphoid precursors and mature lymphocytes from B-CLL did not contain FXIII-A. In the lysate of lymphoblasts that were positive by flow cytometry, a single band (82 kDa) corresponding to FXIII-A was detected on Western blots. Confocal laser scanning microscopic examination revealed the presence of FXIII-A in the cytoplasm of these lymphoblasts. This novel expression site of FXIII-A in leukemic lymphoblasts can be utilized as a diagnostic tool and may also gain functional significance in B-lineage ALL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Molecular Pathology, Thrombosis and Haemostasis Research Group of The Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Medical and Health Science Center, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
authors.forename: Flóra
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kiss
authors.forename: Zsuzsanna
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hevessy
authors.forename: Anikó
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Veszprémi
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Katona
authors.forename: Csongor
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kiss
authors.forename: György
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vereb
authors.forename: László
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Muszbek
authors.forename: J Nos
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Kappelmayer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019281:Dimerization; D005176:Factor XIII / Q000737:chemistry*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007938:Leukemia / Q000378:metabolism*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: C064015:factor XIII subunit A; D005176:Factor XIII