Distinct expression patterns of CD123 and CD34 on normal bone marrow B-cell precursors ("hematogones") and B lymphoblastic leukemia blasts.
We compared the expression of CD123, the alpha chain of the interleukin-3 receptor, on normal B-cell precursors in bone marrow ("hematogones") from 75 specimens and on leukemic blasts in 45 newly diagnosed B-acute lymphoblastic leukemias (B-ALL) cases. We found that the less mature hematogones (dim CD45+) that express CD34 lack CD123 expression, whereas the more mature hematogones (moderate CD45+) lack CD34 but always express CD123. In contrast with this discordant pattern of CD34 and CD123 expression in hematogones, blasts in 41 (91%) of 45 cases of B-ALL showed concordant expression of the 2 antigens: 80% (36 of 45) cases expressed both antigens, whereas 11% (5 of 45) expressed neither. We found that these distinct patterns of CD34/CD123 expression on hematogones (discordant) and B-ALL blasts (concordant) remain stable after chemotherapy and are useful in differentiating small populations of residual blasts from hematogones that may be simultaneously present.
Hassanein
Nagwa M
NM
Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 22170, USA.
Alcancia
Felisa
F
Perkinson
Kathryn R
KR
Buckley
Patrick J
PJ
Lagoo
Anand S
AS
D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000235:genetics*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D053650:Interleukin-3 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000235:genetics*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology; D015452:Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000276:immunology*; D054448:Precursor Cells, B-Lymphoid / Q000276:immunology*
D018952:Antigens, CD34; C115022:IL3RA protein, human; D053650:Interleukin-3 Receptor alpha Subunit