Abstract:
Objective To evaluate the expression of CXCR4 and the migration rate of bone marrow stromal CD34+ cells in different risk groups with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) using correlation analysis.
Methods Forty MDS patients were divided into low- and high-risk groups based on the International Prognosis Scoring System (IPSS). The former was composed of 20 patients with IPSS < 1.5, whereas the latter was composed of 20 patients with IPSS ≥1.5. Bone marrow (BM) samples of these patients and 10 normal controls were collected. CD34+ cells were separated and purified. The expression of CXCR4 was determined by flow cytometry. The migration rate of CD34+ cells on the chemotactic effect of SDF-1α and on the effect of bone marrow stromal cells were measured.
Results The expression rate of CXCR4 was higher in the high-risk MDS group than in the low-risk and control groups (P < 0.000 1). No significant differences existed between the low-risk and the control groups (P>0.05). The migration rate of CD34+ cells on the effects of SDF-1α and marrow stromal cells were significantly increased in the high-risk MDS group compared with those in the low-risk and control groups (P < 0.000 1). Migration rate of CD34+ cells on the effect of marrow stromal cells was positively correlated with CXCR4 expression (P=0.000 1).
Conclusion The CXCR4 expression and migration rates of CD34+ cells on the effect of marrow stromal cells are significantly higher in the high-risk MDS group than in the low-risk group. Migration rate has a positive correlation with the CXCR4 expression, which further indicates that MDS is a heterogeneous group of hematopoietic stem cell malignancies. The expression and function of SDF-1 and its receptor CXCR4 differ within each group with various risks. SDF-1 and CXCR4 may be involved in MDS pathogenesis.