title: Reticulin fibres anchor leukaemic blasts in the marrow of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
abstract: Reticulin fibrosis has been recognized in childhood ALL at diagnosis as part of the altered stromal structure in the bone marrow (BM). Increased fibre density is correlated with a higher concentration of leukaemia cells in the BM and lower numbers of blasts in peripheral blood. We hypothesize that these fibres anchor the leukaemia cells within the BM in close proximity to BM stromal cells (BMSC). The BMSC are a rich source of growth factors and cytokines which enhance leukaemia cell growth and provide protection against chemotherapy. Mobilizing the cells by breaking the 'anchoring ropes' could lead to greater exposure to apoptotic signals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology-Oncology, SA Pathology at WCH, Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: Shriram V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Nath
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nicholson
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tapp
authors.forename: Heddy
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zola
authors.forename: Andrew C W
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Zannettino
authors.forename: Tamas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Revesz
mesh_terms: D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D012155:Reticulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D012155:Reticulin