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Published on: March 26, 2018
Expression of Surface-associated 82 kDa proMMP-9 in Lymphatic Leukemia Blast Cells Differentially Correlates With
Joerg Schmohl1, Sabine Moebius2, Thomas Guenther2
1Department of Hematology and Oncology, Diakonie Hospital Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany.
Background/Aim:
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) degrade extracellular matrix and process regulatory proteins. Recently, a membrane-bound 82kDa variant of proMMP-9 identified on myeloid blasts was shown to be associated with prognosis.
Patients And Methods:
To investigate the role of 82kDa proMMP-9 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and chronic lymphoid leukemia (CLL), we performed flow-cytometry analysis of expression on ALL blasts (n=18) and CLL lymphocytes (n=21) from blood and correlated data with clinical parameters.
Results:
In ALL, mature B-linear blasts expressed higher levels of 82kDa proMMP-9 compared to T-linear blasts. Elevated levels of 82kDa proMMP-9 were found in elderly patients and at patients with relapse. No correlation was observed on blood cells and extramedullary disease. In CLL, the 82kDa proMMP-9 expression did not correlate with any of the clinical parameters.
Conclusion:
Our findings suggest that higher levels of 82kDa proMMP-9 expression on blast cells may correlate with a more unfavorable ALL-subtype. Further studies are required to clarify the prognostic role of the 82kDa pro-MMP-9 expression.
Insights
Higher levels of 82kDa proMMP-9 on myeloid blasts may indicate a poorer prognosis in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), particularly in elderly patients and those with relapsed disease. This finding warrants further investigation into 82kDa pro-MMP-9
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are enzymes involved in extracellular matrix degradation and protein processing.
- A specific 82kDa membrane-bound variant of proMMP-9 on myeloid blasts has been linked to patient prognosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of 82kDa proMMP-9 in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and chronic lymphoid leukemia (CLL).
- To correlate 82kDa proMMP-9 expression with clinical parameters in ALL and CLL patients.
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometry was used to analyze 82kDa proMMP-9 expression on ALL blasts (n=18) and CLL lymphocytes (n=21).
- Expression data were correlated with clinical parameters.
Main Results:
- In ALL, mature B-lineage blasts showed higher 82kDa proMMP-9 levels than T-lineage blasts.
- Elevated 82kDa proMMP-9 was associated with elderly patients and disease relapse in ALL.
- No significant correlation was found between 82kDa proMMP-9 expression and extramedullary disease in ALL or any clinical parameters in CLL.
Conclusions:
- Increased 82kDa proMMP-9 expression on ALL blast cells may suggest a less favorable subtype.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the prognostic significance of 82kDa pro-MMP-9 expression in leukemia.
