Longer in vivo survival of CD59- and decay-accelerating factor-almost
normal positive and partly positive erythrocytes in paroxysmal nocturnal
hemoglobinuria as compared with negative erythrocytes: a demonstration by
differential centrifugation and flow cytometry
S Fujioka and T Yamada
Department of Hematology and Laboratory of Hematology, Mitsui Memorial
Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Three populations of erythrocytes have been shown by flow cytometric
analysis on complement regulatory proteins: CD59 and decay-accelerating
factor (DAF) on erythrocytes in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH).
CD59 and DAF in PNH may be completely deficient in CD59- and DAF- negative
erythrocytes, they may be decreased varyingly in partly positive
erythrocytes, and they may be approximately normal in almost normal
positive erythrocytes. Control erythrocytes are always CD59- and DAF-normal
positive. CD59- and DAF-negative erythrocytes have been shown to be most
sensitive to complement lysis in vitro. However, it has not yet been
elucidated whether CD59- and DAF-almost normal positive and partly positive
erythrocytes in a patient have a longer in vivo survival than negative
erythrocytes. Blood from controls and PNH patients was separated in five
fractions by differential centrifugation. CD59 and DAF on the fractionated
erythrocytes were determined by flow cytometry using specific antibodies.
Ratios of CD59- and DAF-almost normal positive and partly positive cells to
negative erythrocytes were increased progressively from the top fraction to
the bottom. The erythrocytes in the top fraction are younger and
reticulocyte-rich, while those in the bottom are older and reticulocyte-
poor. Hence, the present results indicate that CD59- and DAF-partly
positive erythrocytes as well as almost normal positive erythrocytes in
patients may have a longer in vivo survival than negative erythrocytes.
Volume 79,
Issue 7,
pp. 1842-1845,
04/01/1992
Copyright © 1992 by The American Society of Hematology
