Prednisone induces immunophenotypic modulation of CD10 and CD34 in nonapoptotic B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells.
BACKGROUND
Immunophenotypic modulation is induced by steroids in pediatric B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) patients during remission induction therapy.


METHODS
We cultured BCP-ALL blasts from diagnostic bone marrow (BM) samples (n = 20) in the presence of prednisone on stroma layer obtained from BM-derived mesenchymal cells to maintain viability. Antigen expression was assessed by multiparametric flow cytometry.


RESULTS
Leukemia samples that sustained the treatment in vitro with prednisone, showed significative reduction of CD10 and CD34 expression compared with control, and it was comparable with that observed in residual leukemic cells of the same patients in BM at day 15 of treatment. Modulated cells were viable as determined by Annexin V staining and preserved light scattering properties. Of note, the extent of antigen modulation in vitro correlated with response to prednisone in vivo.


CONCLUSIONS
The prednisone-induced immunophenotypic modulation can be reproduced in vitro and this phenomenon may reflect sensitivity to chemotherapy.
Gaipa
Giuseppe
G
Centro Ricerca M. Tettamanti, Clinica Pediatrica Università Milano-Bicocca, Ospedale San Gerardo, Monza, MI, Italy. giuseppe.gaipa@pediatriamonza.it
Basso
Giuseppe
G
Aliprandi
Sara
S
Migliavacca
Maddalena
M
Vallinoto
Cristina
C
Maglia
Oscar
O
Faini
Andrea
A
Veltroni
Marinella
M
Husak
Dzvenyslava
D
Schumich
Angela
A
Ratei
Richard
R
Biondi
Andrea
A
Dworzak
Michael N
MN
D000293:Adolescent; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015260:Neprilysin / Q000378:metabolism*; D015452:Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D054448:Precursor Cells, B-Lymphoid / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D011241:Prednisone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012074:Remission Induction
D018952:Antigens, CD34; D015260:Neprilysin; D011241:Prednisone