Haematologica. 2003 Aug;88(8):864-73.
Expression
of CD10 by B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells undergoing apoptosis in vivo and in vitro.
Morabito
F, Mangiola
M, Rapezzi
D, Zupo
S, Oliva
BM, Ferraris
AM, Spriano
M, Rossi
E, Stelitano
C, Callea
V, Cutrona
G, Ferrarini
M.
Dipartimento di Ematologia Azienda, Ospedaliera Bianchi-Melacrino,
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) is an accumulating
disease of slowly proliferating cells. CD10 is not normally expressed on the surface of
B-CLL cells. The aim of this study was to ascertain whether B-CLL cells, induced into
apoptosis, expressed surface CD10, since a correlation between apoptosis and CD10
expression has been demonstrated. DESIGN AND METHODS: Peripheral blood cells from 31
untreated B-CLL patients were induced into apoptosis by etoposide, fludarabine or
Ga(mu)-Ab treatment and tested for CD10 expression by flow cytometry. Normal CD5+ B cells
were also induced into apoptosis and tested for CD10 expression. RESULTS: CD10 positive
cells were absent in B-CLL cell suspensions, but were detected following in vitro culture,
and their appearance paralleled that of apoptotic cells. Treatment with etoposide,
fludarabine or Ga(mu)-Ab enhanced both apoptosis and CD10 expression. Inhibition of
apoptosis by VAD-fmk or Ga(delta)-Ab prevented CD10 expression. Cell separation tests
following induction of apoptosis demonstrated that CD10+ cells were apoptotic. CD10+ cells
were observed in the peripheral blood of two patients within a few hours following
fludarabine infusion. In another patient, who failed to respond, no CD10+ cells were seen.
Expression of CD10 was observed also in normal CD5+ B cells when these were induced into
apoptosis. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that B-CLL cells, as
well as normal CD5+ B cells, become CD10+ following apoptosis induction in vitro. Some of
the data obtained also suggest a use for CD10 to monitor apoptosis of B-CLL in a clinical
setting.
PMID: 12935974 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]