The phenotype of L-CFU and its correlation with the immunological characteristics of the blast cell population in AML

• Published in: Annals of hematology 1994-05, Vol.68 (5), p.233-236
• Main Authors: DEL CAÑIZO, M. C, ALMEIDA, J, SAN MIGUEL, J. F, ORFAO, A, GONZALEZ, M, LOPEZ BORRASCA, A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antigens, CD - analysis; Biological and medical sciences; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; HLA-DR Antigens - analysis; Humans; Immunophenotyping; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute - immunology; Leukemias. Malignant lymphomas. Malignant reticulosis. Myelofibrosis; Medical sciences; Membrane Glycoproteins; Neoplastic Stem Cells - immunology; Tetraspanin-29; Tumor Cells, Cultured
• ISSN: 0939-5555; 1432-0584
• DOI: 10.1007/BF01737422

The membrane phenotype of AML clonogenic cells (L-CFU) was analyzed in 19 AML patients using an in vitro culture technique after a complement-mediated lysis assay employing a panel of six monoclonal antibodies (McAb) -HLA-DR, FMC56 (CD9), FMC27 (CD9), CD14, CD15, CD41a-. Our results show that L-CFU has a heterogeneous but immature phenotype lacking on the expression of differentiation antigens (CD14, CD15, CD41a). In addition, we observed that the L-CFU phenotype is different from that of the whole blast cell population. Interestingly, L-CFU showed a higher expression of HLA-DR antigens with respect to their progeny. Upon analyzing whether the L-CFU phenotype was related to both the morphological and immunological features of AML blast cells, it was observed that, while there is no correlation with the FAB classification, there was a partial relationship between the immunological phenotype of AML blast cells and that of L-CFU. Accordingly, the more immature AML cases showed a more differentiated L-CFU phenotype (HLA-DR+, CD9+, FMC27+) when compared with cases with a more mature blast cell phenotype. These results suggest that those AML cases with a relatively immature myeloblastic phenotype may arise from a progenitor cell that has undergone partial differentiation and that is unable to acquire myeloid differentiation antigens, while those AML cases with mature blast cells might emerge from a very early L-CFU that has the capacity to undergo a greater degree of differentiation.