Abnormal expression of P2X family receptors in Chinese pediatric acute leukemias.
Nucleotides are new players in intercellular communication network. P2X family receptors are ATP-gated plasma membrane ion channels with diverse biological functions. Their distribution patterns and significance in pediatric leukemias have not been established. Here we investigated the expression of P2X receptors in BMMC samples from Chinese pediatric acute leukemias. Real-time PCR and Western blot results showed that P2X1, P2X4, P2X5 and P2X7 receptors were simultaneously over expressed in leukemias compared with controls, whereas P2X2, P2X3 and P2X6 were absent or marginally expressed in both groups. It was worth noting that the co-expression feature of them, especially between P2X4 and P2X7, could be observed and the highest expression of P2X7 was detected in relapsed patients. Moreover, concomitant decrease of P2X4, P2X5 and P2X7 expressions was observed at CR stage in a follow-up study. Functional P2X7 was also verified. These results suggested that P2X1, P2X4, P2X5 and P2X7 were hematopoiesis-related P2X receptors, and their signaling, especially for P2X7, might play important roles in pediatric leukemias. P2X receptors might co-operatively contribute to the malignant phenotype in human pediatric leukemias.
Chong
Jing-Hui
JH
State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, PR China.
Zheng
Guo-Guang
GG
Zhu
Xiao-Fan
XF
Guo
Ye
Y
Wang
Lin
L
Ma
Cui-Hua
CH
Liu
Shu-Yan
SY
Xu
Lin-Lin
LL
Lin
Yong-Min
YM
Wu
Ke-Fu
KF
D000293:Adolescent; D044466:Asian People; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000378:metabolism*; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D058469:Receptors, Purinergic P2X
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2; D058469:Receptors, Purinergic P2X