Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are multifunctional cytokines which belong to transforming growth factor β (TGF β) superfamily. They regulate proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis in a variety of cells including hematopoietic cells. BMPs act because of binding to two types of serine/threonine kinase receptors: BMP type I receptors (IA and IB) and BMP type II receptor. Deregulation of BMPs signaling pathways has been reported in some of human cancers, but the role of BMPs in hematopoietic malignancies remains unknown. The aim of our study was to examine the percentage of expression of BMPs receptors on lymphocytes of patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL). A total of 46 patients with B-CLL (27 men and 19 women) and 10 healthy persons were evaluated. Freshly isolated mononuclear cells were incubated with antibodies against BMPs receptors: BMPRIA, BMPRIB, and BMPRII and examined in 2-color flow cytometry. On cells of patients with B-CLL, the percentage of expression of BMP RIA, BMP RIB, and BMP RII was significantly higher than in normal cells of the control group. The percentage of the expression of BMP RIA and BMP RIB was higher in patients with advanced stage of disease.
© 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.