The biology of hairy-cell leukaemia

John C Cawley1, Stephen F Hawkins

  • 1Division of Haematology, School of Cancer Studies, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK. haem@liv.ac.uk

Insights

Hairy cell leukaemia involves highly activated B cells influenced by their microenvironment. Understanding these interactions and oncogenic events is key for developing targeted therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Hematology
  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Hairy cell leukaemia (HCL) is a rare B-cell malignancy.
  • Hairy cells are characterized by specific morphological and immunophenotypic features.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the biology of hairy-cell leukaemia.
  • To focus on the hairy cell and its microenvironmental interactions.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of HCL biology.
  • Analysis of hairy cell characteristics and interactions.

Main Results:

  • Hairy cells are activated B cells, possibly related to memory cells.
  • Activation involves microenvironmental stimuli, cytokines, and oncogenic events.
  • Protein kinase Cepsilon plays a crucial role in hairy cell activation.

Conclusions:

  • Activated hairy cells exhibit sensitivity to interferon and nucleosides.
  • Further research should focus on oncogenic events and differentiation blocks in HCL.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos

Disorders of Leukocytes01:27

Disorders of Leukocytes

Leukocyte disorders can lead to either leukopenia, characterized by an abnormally low leukocyte count, or leukocytosis, marked by a very high leukocyte number.
Leukopenia may result from bone marrow disorders, autoimmune diseases, and infectious diseases. For example, conditions such as multiple myeloma and aplastic anemia can impair the bone marrow's ability to produce adequate leukocytes. Similarly, autoimmune diseases like lupus and viral infections such as HIV can prompt the immune system...
Differentiation of Common Myeloid Progenitor Cells01:15

Differentiation of Common Myeloid Progenitor Cells

Common myeloid progenitors (CMPs) are oligopotent cells that can differentiate into granulocytes and macrophages. Granulocytes and macrophages are essential for protecting the body against bacterial, viral, or fungal infections. They migrate from the bone marrow into the circulating blood to reach specific tissue sites where they differentiate and help in immune surveillance. However, they survive only for a few days and must be continuously made available to the organism to maintain a robust...
Multipotency and Niche of Bulge Stem Cell01:06

Multipotency and Niche of Bulge Stem Cell

A hair follicle or HF is a small part of the skin that produces the hair shaft. Paul Gerson Unna was the first to observe a bulge in the human hair follicle's outer root sheath (ORS). The bulge is present between the sebaceous gland and the arrector pili muscle and is the niche for hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs). The bulge is also a niche for melanocyte stem cells, and their loss results in graying of hair. The HFSCs express Sox9 and Lhx2, which help them maintain stemness and prevent...
Regulation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells01:01

Regulation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells

All blood and immune cells are produced from the multipotent hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) by the process of hematopoiesis. However, they all have a limited life span. In addition, many are depleted in immune surveillance or combatting an injury or infection. This makes blood one of the most regenerative tissues. Hematopoiesis helps replenish these blood and immune cells, restoring the body's normal functioning. However, overproduction of blood and immune cells can make them cancerous or...
Lineage Commitment01:21

Lineage Commitment

Commitment is the  process whereby stem cells: