Leukemic lymphoblasts, a novel expression site of coagulation factor XIII subunit A

Summary

Blood coagulation factor XIII (FXIII) is a protransglutaminase circulating asa tetramer formed by two types of subunits (A₂B₂). The intracellular dimeric form of FXIII (A₂) is present in platelets, megakaryocytes, monocytes and macrophages and has been detected in mono-and megakaryocytic leukemias. The aim of our study was to investigate FXIII-A expression in newly diagnosed B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) samples. We examined 47 de novo ALL cases of B cell origin by triple color labeling with flow cytometry. FXIII-A was detected by a FITC conjugated monoclonal antibody combined with CD34 and CD45 staining. In selected cases FXIII-A was investigated on slides prepared from blasts and visualized with a fluorescent microscope. In addition, blasts were studied by Western blot analysis and FXIII-A was measured by a highly sensitive ELISA method. By flow cytometry 19 samples of the 47 cases were found to be FXIII-A positive. Antigen concentration was 3.11± 1.19 fg/blast, while normal lymphoid precursors and mature lymphocytes from B-CLL did not contain FXIII-A. In the lysate of lymphoblasts that were positive by flow cytometry, a single band (82 kDa) corresponding to FXIII-A was detected on Western blots. Confocal laser scanning microscopic examination revealed the presence of FXIII-A in the cytoplasm of these lymphoblasts. This novel expression site of FXIII-A in leukemic lymphoblasts can be utilized as a diagnostic tool and may also gain functional significance in B-lineage ALL.

Keywords

Coagulation factor XIII - acute lymphoblastic leukemia - flow cytometry

^* These authors contributed equally.

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