[Effect of 2-methoxyestradiol on differentiation of primary myeloma cells]

In order to investigate the differentiation-inducing effect of 2-methoxyestradiol (2ME2), an estrogen derivative, on CD138+ (Syndecan-1) primary myeloma cells from 7 patients with myeloma, primary myeloma cells from 7 patients were enriched by using CD138 immunomagenetic beads. The enriched CD138+ (Syndecan-1) myeloma cells treated with 0.5 micromol/L 2ME2 for 36 h and 72 hours were used to observe the differentiation changes with expression of CD49e and to quantitatively detect the light-chain secretion in the supernatants. The results indicated that 2ME2 caused morphological and immunophenotypic changes with light-chain secretion in the supernatant, and the typical features of differentiation of CD138+ (Syndecan-1) primary myeloma cells. CD138+ (Syndecan-1) myeloma cells became more and more mature in morphology, with decreased ratio of nucleus to plasma, disappearance of nucleoli, and pyknosis of chromatin. The result of detecting the expression of CD49e of CD138+ (Syndecan-1) myeloma cells showed the obvious up-regulation of CD49e expression after exposure to 2ME2 for 72 hours. Quantitative assay for light chain secretion in the supernatant of bone marrow CD138+ cells from patients showed remarkable increment at 72 hours. It is concluded that lower concentrations of 2-methoxyestradiol can induce differentiation of bone marrow CD138+ cells from multiple myeloma patients.