[Immunophenotype characteristics in multiple myeloma cells and their significance]

This study was purposed to investigate the immunophenotype characteristics in multiple myeloma (MM) cells and their significance. The expressions of CD138, CD38, CD56, CD117, HLA-DR, CD3, CD7, CD13, CD33, CD19, CD20, CD22, CD34 in myeloma cells from 31 MM patients were detected by using CD45/SSC immunofluorescent flow cytometry and were confirmed with morphologic observation of myeloma cells. The results indicated that the proportion of myeloma cells detected by morphologic examination was 10%-68%, the proportion of myeloma cells detected by CD45/SSC gating was 9.72%-67.77%. The antigen positive expression rate in myeloma cells was as follows: CD138 61.29%, CD38 100%, CD56 46.15%, CD13 70.00%, CD33 29.03%, HLA-DR 74.19%, CD117 33.33%; the other antigen expressions were negative. It is concluded that the use of CD45/SSC gating technique can identify multiple myeloma cells. The proportion of myeloma cells gated was close to the result of morphological examination. The myeloma cells mainly express the antigens CD138, CD88, CD56, while the expressions of CD117, CD13, CD33 were seen in some MM patients. Myeloma cells don't express antigens of B- and T-lymphocytes, which suggest the heterogenicity of multiple antigens expressed by myeloma cells. However, the biological significance of antigen expression in myeloma cells is worthy to be further investigated.