Myeloid differentiation antigen and cytokine receptor expression on acute myelocytic leukaemia cells with t(16;21)(p11;q22): frequent expression of CD56 and interleukin-2 receptor alpha chain

Br J Haematol. 1999 Jun;105(3):711-9. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2141.1999.01384.x.

Abstract

We report the cellular characteristics of cells from three patients with de novo acute myelocytic leukaemia (AML) with t(16;21)(p11;q22), two M4 and one M5a according to the FAB classification, and two permanent cell lines with t(16;21)(p11;q22), TSU1621MT and YNH-1. The FUS/ERG fusion mRNA was demonstrated in all cases by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The immunophenotypes of the AML cells, and YNH-1 and TSU1621MT cell lines with t(16;21) were characterized as CD34+CD33+CD13+CD11b+CD18+CD56+ HLA-DR-/+. Cells from all samples strongly expressed c-kit, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor (G-CSFR), c-fms (macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor), interleukin-3 receptor alpha chain (IL-3Ralpha), and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor alpha chain (GM-CSFRalpha), and these data corresponded well to the growth responsiveness to the cytokines. IL-2Ralpha expression was also found in all t(16;21) samples, but IL-2 did not act on the proliferation of the leukaemic cells in in vitro cultures. G-CSF distinctly promoted the proliferation of leukaemic cells of t(16;21) AML, but did not enhance the expression of MPO and neutrophil differentiation of these cells. Our findings indicate that AML cells with t(16;21) preserve stem cell properties such as CD34 and c-kit expression, and suggest that they have the potential to differentiate into a monocytic lineage. The relationship between the unique cellular characteristics (especially CD56 and IL-2Ralpha expression) and FUS/ERG protein remains undetermined.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 16 / genetics*
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 21 / genetics*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Karyotyping
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / genetics*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / metabolism
  • Male
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / metabolism
  • Receptors, Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / metabolism
  • Receptors, Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / metabolism
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2 / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Interleukin-3 / metabolism
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Receptors, Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor
  • Receptors, Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2
  • Receptors, Interleukin-3
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit