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Published on: November 3, 2018
Immunophenotypic characterization of human bone marrow mast cells. A flow cytometric study of normal and pathological
L Escribano1, A Orfao, J Villarrubia
1Servicio de Hematología, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Universidad de Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.
Insights
Bone marrow mast cells (BMMC) from healthy individuals and hematologic malignancy (HM) patients share a similar, yet heterogeneous, immunophenotype. BMMC numbers were higher in HM patients, with distinct antigen expression patterns observed.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Hematology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Mast cells (MC) are key immune cells involved in allergic responses and inflammation.
- Understanding the immunophenotype of bone marrow mast cells (BMMC) is crucial for diagnosing and treating hematologic malignancies (HM).
- Previous studies have characterized MC from various tissues, but BMMC immunophenotype requires further definition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define the immunophenotype of bone marrow mast cells (BMMC) in healthy controls and patients with hematologic malignancies (HM).
- To compare the immunophenotype of BMMC with MC from other tissues.
- To identify distinct antigen expression patterns in BMMC.
Main Methods:
- Multi-color flow cytometry analysis was employed.
- Monoclonal antibodies were used for staining BMMC from healthy controls and HM patients.
- Antigen expression patterns were categorized into constantly positive, constantly negative, and variably expressed markers.
Main Results:
- BMMC from both healthy and HM groups exhibited a similar but heterogeneous immunophenotype.
- Overall BMMC numbers were higher in the HM group (p = 0.08).
- Three distinct antigen expression patterns were identified: constantly positive (e.g., CD117, FcεRI), constantly negative (e.g., CD1a, HLA-DR), and variably expressed markers (e.g., CD11c, CD40).
Conclusions:
- BMMC in healthy individuals and HM patients share a comparable immunophenotype, albeit with significant heterogeneity.
- Observed differences in BMMC immunophenotype compared to MC from other tissues suggest tissue-specific heterogeneity or methodological variations.
- The defined immunophenotype provides a basis for further research into BMMC function and their role in hematologic malignancies.
Abstract:
The goal of the present paper was to define the immunophenotype of bone marrow mast cells (BMMC) from healthy controls and patients with hematologic malignancies (HM) based on the use of multiple stainings with monoclonal antibodies analyzed by flow cytometry. Our results show that BMMC from both groups of individuals display a similar but heterogeneous immunophenotype. The overall numbers of BMMC are higher in the HM group of individuals (p = 0.08). Three patterns of antigen expression were detected: (1) markers constantly positive in all cases analyzed (CD9, CD29, CD33, CD43, CD44, CD49d, CD49e, CD51, CD71, CD117, and Fc(epsilon)RI), (2) antigens that were constantly negative (CD1a, CD2, CD3, CD5, CD6, CD11a, CD14, CD15, CD16, CD19, CD20, CD21, CD23, CD25, CD30, CD34, CD38, CD41a, CD42b, CD65, CD66b, HLA-DR, and CD138), and (3) markers that were positive in a variable proportion of cases--CD11b (50%), CD11c (77%), CD13 (40%), CD18 (20%), CD22 (68%), CD35 (27%), CD40 (67%), CD54 (88%) and CD61 (40%). In addition, BMMC from all cases explored were CD45+, and this antigen was expressed at an intensity similar to that of mature granulocytes. In summary, our results show that BMMC from both healthy controls and HM patients display a relatively heterogeneous immunophenotype. Interestingly, we have observed clear differences between the immunophenotype of BMMC and MC from other tissues. This could be due either to the heterogeneity of human MC according to their tissue localization or to the sensitivity of the method used for antigen detection.
