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Updated: Jun 18, 2026
Flow Cytometry Analysis of Murine Bone Marrow Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells and Stromal Niche Cells
Published on: September 28, 2022
Immunophenotypic analysis of bone marrow B lymphocyte precursors (hématogones) by flow cytometry
N Braham Jmili1, S Nsaibia, M C Jacob
1Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Center, Monastir, Tunisia. jmilinejia@yahoo.fr
Insights
Hematogones, or benign immature B cells, decline with age but are present in 80% of specimens. Quantifying these cells is crucial for diagnosing conditions and monitoring pediatric B acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Hematogones are benign B lymphoid precursors.
- Their immunophenotypic profile and quantification across diverse clinical conditions require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify hematogones across different age groups and clinical conditions.
- To characterize the immunophenotypic profile of these immature B cells.
- To assess the clinical relevance of hematogone quantification.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 406 bone marrow specimens using 4-color flow cytometry.
- Identification of B cell population using markers like CD19, CD45, CD20, CD22, CD10, CD29, CD38, CD58, HLA-DR, and CD34.
- Morphologic analysis of bone marrow smears.
Main Results:
- Hematogones were present in 80% of analyzed specimens.
- A significant decline in hematogones was observed with increasing age, though a broad range persisted across all ages.
- Adult bone marrow samples sometimes showed relatively high hematogone numbers, particularly in patients with cytopenias, infections, or neoplastic diseases.
Conclusions:
- Hematogone quantification and immunophenotypic profiling provide valuable insights into B cell development.
- Distinguishing hematogones is critical for accurate disease management, especially in monitoring minimal residual disease in pediatric B acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients post-therapy.
Abstract:
The aims of this flow cytometry study were to quantify B lymphoid precursors known as hématogones across age and clinical conditions and to study the immunophenotypic profile of these benign immature B cells. A total of 406 consecutive marrow specimens were analyzed for hématogones using 4-color flow cytometry during a 19 month period (60% males and 40% females). The age range was 3 months to 89 years. Hématogones were present in 80% of the specimens. Morphologic analysis of the smears from each patient showed small numbers of hématogones (<13% of total cellularity). The B cell population was defined by CD19 + CD45 bright positivity, coexpression of other B lineage markers: CD20, CD22, CD10, CD29, CD38 and CD58 in addition to HLA-DR and CD34. In our study we found a significant decline in hématogones with increasing age but a broad range was found at all ages. Marrow from some adults contained relatively high numbers. Diagnosis in these patients included cytopenias, infections, and neoplastic diseases. Distinction of hématogones is critical for disease management particularly after therapy of paediatric B acute lymphoblastic leukaemia to monitor for minimal residual disease.
