Distinct expression patterns of CD123 and CD34 on normal bone marrow B-cell precursors ("hematogones") and B lymphoblastic leukemia blasts.

Abstract

We compared the expression of CD123, the alpha chain of the interleukin-3 receptor, on normal B-cell precursors in bone marrow ("hematogones") from 75 specimens and on leukemic blasts in 45 newly diagnosed B-acute lymphoblastic leukemias (B-ALL) cases. We found that the less mature hematogones (dim CD45+) that express CD34 lack CD123 expression, whereas the more mature hematogones (moderate CD45+) lack CD34 but always express CD123. In contrast with this discordant pattern of CD34 and CD123 expression in hematogones, blasts in 41 (91%) of 45 cases of B-ALL showed concordant expression of the 2 antigens: 80% (36 of 45) cases expressed both antigens, whereas 11% (5 of 45) expressed neither. We found that these distinct patterns of CD34/CD123 expression on hematogones (discordant) and B-ALL blasts (concordant) remain stable after chemotherapy and are useful in differentiating small populations of residual blasts from hematogones that may be simultaneously present.

• Authors: Nagwa M Hassanein, Felisa Alcancia, Kathryn R Perkinson, Patrick J Buckley, Anand S Lagoo
• Journal: American journal of clinical pathology (Am J Clin Pathol) Vol. 132 Issue 4 Pg. 573-80 (Oct 2009) ISSN: 1943-7722 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 19762535 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antigens, CD34
• IL3RA protein, human
• Interleukin-3 Receptor alpha Subunit

Topics

• Antigens, CD34 (genetics)
• Bone Marrow (immunology)
• Humans
• Interleukin-3 Receptor alpha Subunit (genetics)
• Leukocytes (immunology)
• Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma (immunology)
• Precursor Cells, B-Lymphoid (immunology)