NRP-1/CD304 expression in acute leukemia: a potential marker for minimal residual disease detection in precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Am J Clin Pathol. 2012 Jan;137(1):39-50. doi: 10.1309/AJCP6VDBL4BRXRQA.

Abstract

Neuropilin-1 (NRP-1)/CD304 is a marker for plasmacytoid dendritic cells. We determined the distribution of NRP-1/CD304 expression on normal hematopoietic cells and in 167 acute leukemias by flow cytometry. NRP-1/CD304 surface expression was frequent in precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (36/51 [71%]) and uncommon in acute myeloid leukemia (22.9%). In acute myeloid leukemia, expression was noted in all (4/4) acute myeloid leukemias with the M4eo subtype and in 50% of specimens (6/12) with complex cytogenetics. On hematopoietic cells, NRP-1/CD304 was expressed on normal erythroid progenitors, plasma cells, and B-cell progenitors, as well as plasmacytoid dendritic cells. Expression was not consistently detected on other hematopoietic cell types. Owing to this distribution of expression, the detection of NRP-1/CD304 alone on a hematopoietic cell cannot be used to determine plasmacytoid dendritic cell differentiation. Finally, we show that NRP-1/CD304 is overexpressed in 30% of precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia samples compared with normal B-cell progenitors, allowing for its potential use as a marker for the detection of minimal residual disease.

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Bone Marrow Cells / cytology
  • Bone Marrow Cells / metabolism
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism
  • Dendritic Cells / pathology
  • Erythroblasts / metabolism
  • Erythroblasts / pathology
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / diagnosis*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / metabolism
  • Neoplasm, Residual / diagnosis*
  • Neoplasm, Residual / metabolism
  • Neuropilin-1 / metabolism*
  • Plasma Cells / metabolism
  • Plasma Cells / pathology
  • Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / diagnosis*
  • Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / metabolism
  • Precursor Cells, B-Lymphoid / metabolism
  • Precursor Cells, B-Lymphoid / pathology

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Neuropilin-1