GATA1 Is a Sensitive and Specific Nuclear Marker for Erythroid and Megakaryocytic Lineages.
OBJECTIVE
GATA binding factor 1 (GATA1) is a transcription factor essential for erythromegakaryocytic differentiation. Given its function in lineage specification, we sought to evaluate the immunohistochemical profile of GATA1 in normal marrow and acute leukemia and assess the use of GATA1 as a specific erythromegakaryocytic immunohistochemical marker.


METHODS
Immunohistochemical studies for GATA1 expression were performed on bone marrow biopsy specimens to define its role in the evaluation of acute leukemia and other hematologic disorders.


RESULTS
In normal marrows, intense nuclear reactivity is seen in immature erythroid precursors and megakaryocytes. Weak to moderate nuclear positivity is seen in eosinophils and mast cells. In marrows involved by acute leukemia, blasts of pure erythroleukemia and acute megakaryoblastic leukemia exhibit intense nuclear GATA1 positivity, while blasts of acute myeloid leukemia of other categories are negative. GATA1 is also absent in the blasts of acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma and in the neoplastic cells of metastatic carcinoma and plasma cell neoplasms.


CONCLUSIONS
Intense GATA1 nuclear expression is a sensitive and specific marker for cells of erythroid and megakaryocytic lineages and is an excellent marker for neoplastic cells of pure erythroleukemia and acute megakaryoblastic leukemia.
From the Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Winston Y
WY
Lee
From the Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.|Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA.
Olga K
OK
Weinberg
From the Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Geraldine S
GS
Pinkus
D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D041905:Erythroid Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D050982:GATA1 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D004915:Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D007947:Leukemia, Megakaryoblastic, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008533:Megakaryocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D050982:GATA1 Transcription Factor; C494688:GATA1 protein, human; D005819:Genetic Markers
Acute megakaryoblastic leukemia; Acute myeloid leukemia; GATA1; Immunohistochemistry; Pure erythroid leukemia