Human GM-CSF receptor alpha-chain gene is highly polymorphic but not rearranged in AML

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) blast cells express haemopoietic growth factor receptors. However, their presence does not predict response to the cognate ligand in vitro. This suggests that haemopoietic growth factor receptor structure or function may be abnormal in some cases of acute myeloid leukaemia. The granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor alpha-chain gene (GM-CSF-R) has recently been localised to the pseudoautosomal region of the sex chromosomes. A sex chromosome is lost in 25% of cases of AML FAB subtype M2. The loss of one allele of this gene may have some aetiological significance in AML if the other allele is altered leading to abnormal receptor structure, function or number. In this initial study, we have examined DNA from leukaemic cells of 29 patients with AML, including three with FAB subtype M2 with deletion of an X or Y chromosome for evidence of gross rearrangement of this gene. We report that although the gene is highly polymorphic for a number of restriction enzymes, we have found no evidence of gross rearrangement in AML.