Objective: To investigate CLLU1 expression and its relationship with clinical stage, expression of CD38 and ZAP-70, and chromosome abnormalities in patients with chronic lymphoid leukemia (CLL).
Methods: Fifty CLL patients were studied. Semiquantitative RT-PCR was performed to detect CLLU1 expression levels; three-color flow cytometry to detect the ZAP-70 and CD38 expression, interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to detect chromosomal aberrations.
Results: The expression of CLLU1 mRNA was detected in 26 of the 50 cases (52%), of them 7 cases (26.92%) in Binet A and 19 (73. 08%) in Binet B + C. The expression levels of CLLU1 were significantly higher in Binet stage B + C than in Binet stage A (P < 0. 01). Among 24 CD38+ CLL cases, 17 (70. 83%) expressed high CLLU1 mRNA, whereas in 26 CD38- CLL patients only 9 (34.62%) were CLLU1 positive. The expression of CLLU1 in CD38+ CLL was significantly higher than that in CD38- CLL (P < 0.05). However, no significant difference of CLLU1 expression was found between ZAP-70+ and ZAP-70- patients (P > 0. 05), and between chromosomal aberrations (P > 0. 05).
Conclusions: CLLU1 expression was significantly associated with clinical stage and CD38 expression, and might be an important prognostic factor in CLL patients.