The expression of myeloid-specific antigens on myeloid leukemia cells:
correlations with leukemia subclasses and implications for normal myeloid
differentiation
ED Ball and MW Fanger
The expression of three distinct myeloid-specific cell surface antigens
detected by monoclonal antibodies (PMN 6, PMN 29, and AML-2-23) on acute
and chronic myeloid leukemia cells is correlated with blast cell morphology
and normal myeloid cell antigen display. In studies on normal peripheral
blood cells, monoclonal antibodies PMN 6 and PMN 29 have previously been
shown to react exclusively with neutrophils while AML-2-23 reacts with both
neutrophils and monocytes. The present report demonstrates that these
antigens are absent from blast cells of patients with acute myelocytic
leukemia (AML) classified as M1 and M2 in the French-American-British
system and chronic myelocytic leukemia in myeloid blast crisis. However,
leukemia cells with myelomonocytic morphology (M4) expressed all three
antigens, while cells with pure monocytic features (M5) were generally only
positive for AML-2-23. Based on the absence of these antigens on both
leukemic and normal myeloblasts and granulocyte-monocyte progenitors and
their characteristic patterns of display on more differentiated leukemic
and normal cells, we propose a modified concept of normal myelopoiesis. In
this hypothesis, the myeloblast is an uncommitted cell that gives rise to a
series of intermediate precursors that acquire committment to either the
granulocytic or monocytic lineage marked by the acquisition of specific
cell surface markers.
Volume 61,
Issue 3,
pp. 456-463,
03/01/1983
Copyright © 1983 by The American Society of Hematology
