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Expression of theMAGE gene family in human lymphocytic leukemia

  • Original Article
  • MAGE Gene Family, Human Lymphocytic Leukemia
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Abstract

TheMAGE gene family, encoding tumor-rejection antigens recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes, is frequently expressed in human solid cancers. However, its expression in leukemia has not been well studied. We have investigatedMAGE gene expression at the mRNA level in human leukemia. TheMAGE gene family was expressed in 17 of 34 (50%) examples of T cell leukemia (12/21 patients' peripheral blood mononuclear cells and 5/13 cell lines), in 7 of 16 (44%) cases of B cell leukemia (1/8 and 6/8 respectively), but in none of 23 myelomonocytic leukemia cases (0/16 and 0.7), as evaluated by the primers common to theMAGE-1,-3,-4 (-4a and/or-4b), and-6 genes and the semi-quantificative reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction method. None of a panel of normal lymphoid cells expressed theMAGE gene family. As revealed by the primers specific for each of theMAGE genes, theMAGE-1,-2,-3,-4 or-6 gene was expressed in 8, 8, 6, 2 or 6 respectively out of 23 types of leukemia cell lines. Expression of the MAGE-1 protein in both the cell lines and patients' cells was confirmed by immunoblot analysis with the polyclonal antibody to recombinant MAGE-1 protein. Cellular MAGE-4 protein in the cell lines was measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with the polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies to recombinant MAGE-4b protein. In summary, theMAGE gene family was found to be expressed in the substantial proportion of T cell leukemias, but in no case of myelomonocytic leukemia. Antigens coded by theMAGE gene family could be important molecules for understanding specific immunity against lymphocytic leukemia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Immunology, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67-Asahi-machi, 830, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan

    Shigeki Shichijio, Rika Tsunosue, Kazuhiro Masuoka, Makoto Tamai, Jiro Miyajima, Kimitaka Sagawa & Kyogo Itoh

  2. First Department of Internal Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, 830, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan

    Hideyo Natori

Authors
  1. Shigeki Shichijio
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  2. Rika Tsunosue
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  3. Kazuhiro Masuoka
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  4. Hideyo Natori
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  5. Makoto Tamai
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  6. Jiro Miyajima
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  7. Kimitaka Sagawa
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  8. Kyogo Itoh
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This work was supported in part by a grant-in-aid for scientific research from Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture of Japan, by a grant from the Comprehensive 10-year Strategy for Cancer Control from the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Japan and by the Osaka Cancer Research fund

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Shichijio, S., Tsunosue, R., Masuoka, K. et al. Expression of theMAGE gene family in human lymphocytic leukemia. Cancer Immunol Immunother 41, 95–103 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01527405

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01527405

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