Chemokine receptor expression and function in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia of B-lineage

Received 27 June 2005

Abstract

Scanty information is available on chemokine receptor expression and function in childhood B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Thirteen pro-B, 17 early pre-B, 12 pre-B, and 9 B-ALL/Burkitt lymphoma (BL) pediatric cases were tested for CXCR1 to CXCR5 and CCR1 to CCR7 expression. CXCR2, CXCR3, and CXCR4 were expressed in the majority of cases, while the other receptors were variably expressed or absent. CXCR4 mediated chemotaxis of all leukemic cell subtypes. Freshly isolated CCR7+ early pre-B-ALL cells migrated to CCL19, whereas CCR7+ pro-B- and pre-B-ALL cells were attracted by CCL19 only following culture with soluble recombinant CD40 ligand.

Keywords: B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Chemokines, Chemokine receptors, Chemotaxis

a Laboratory of Oncology, G. Gaslini Institute, Largo G. Gaslini 5, 16148 Genova, Italy

b Laboratory of Phagocyte Physiopathology and Inflammation, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy

c Clinical Epidemiology and Biometry Unit, Scientific Direction, G. Gaslini Institute, Genova, Italy

d Division of Hematology Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Padova, Padova, Italy

Corresponding author. Tel.: +39 010 5636342; fax: +39 010 3779820.

PII: S0145-2126(05)00292-4

doi:10.1016/j.leukres.2005.07.009

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