Myeloperoxidase gene expression in blast cells with a lymphoid phenotype in
cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia
S Ferrari, MT Mariano, E Tagliafico, M Sarti, G Ceccherelli, L Selleri, F Merli, F Narni, A Donelli and G Torelli
Experimental Hematology Center, University of Modena, Italy.
By using a cDNA clone of the myeloperoxidase (MPO) gene, we have studied,
by Northern blot analysis, the level of MPO mRNA in eight cases of acute
lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The blast cell populations studied were
characterized by morphologic, cytochemical, immunochemical, and molecular
criteria. With all the methods used the populations were found to be highly
homogeneous and showed a typical lymphoid phenotype. In particular, the Ig
heavy-chain gene rearrangement was largely prevalent, and the germ line
configuration was almost absent. However, in three of eight cases, high
levels of MPO mRNA were detected. The remarkable homogeneity of the cell
populations examined suggests that the MPO mRNA observed was present in
cellular elements certainly identified as lymphoid. The absence of
contamination by myeloid cells was confirmed by the results of Western blot
analysis of the proteins of the cell population studied: no MPO protein was
detectable. The levels of mRNA observed were high enough to be comparable
to those observed in a promyelocytic cell population.
Volume 72,
Issue 3,
pp. 873-876,
09/01/1988
Copyright © 1988 by The American Society of Hematology
