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Flow cytometric analysis of P-glycoprotein in normal and leukemic cells

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Summary

Classical multidrug resistance is characterized by overexpression of a membrane protein, P-glycoprotein, which acts like a drug-extruding pump, reducing accumulation of cytotoxic drugs inside malignant cells. We have developed a simple method for detecting an intracellular epitope of P-glycoprotein in normal and leukemic cells by the monoclonal antibody JSB-1 and fluorescence-activated flow cytometry. Permeabilization of blood and bone marrow cells in unprocessed samples is achieved by a commercially available red blood cell lysing solution which excellently preserves the light scatter properties of leukocytes. The method is suitable for analyzing samples in clinical routine. Lower than 1% reactivity was seen in the lymphoid gate of normal peripheral blood and bone marrow samples as compared with over 60% of reacting cells in some leukemic samples. Twelve patients with acute de novo leukemia were studied at presentation, 13 patients at a refractory stage, and 28 in remission. There was a positive correlation between the P-glycoprotein and the CD 34 expression in acute myelogenous leukemia and an association between the P-glycoprotein expression and the blast count in both acute myelogenous and lymphatic leukemias.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Finnish Red Cross, Blood Transfusion Service, Kivihaantie 7, SF-00310, Helsinki, Finland

    M. I. Tiirikainen & T. Krusius

  2. Department of Clinical Chemistry, Helsinki University, Meilahti Hospital, Haartmaninkatu 4, SF-00290, Helsinki, Finland

    M. T. Syrjälä & S. -E. Jansson

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  1. M. I. Tiirikainen
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  2. M. T. Syrjälä
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  3. S. -E. Jansson
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  4. T. Krusius
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Tiirikainen, M.I., Syrjälä, M.T., Jansson, S.E. et al. Flow cytometric analysis of P-glycoprotein in normal and leukemic cells. Ann Hematol 65, 124–130 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01695811

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01695811

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