Expression of CD1d molecules on B cells in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Abstract

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) which is the most common leukemia in adults in Western countries still remains incurable. There is an intense search for the prognostic markers that might facilitate the treatment of patients according to individual prognosis. The aim of the presented study was to evaluate the expression of CD1d molecule on peripheral blood B cells from 70 untreated patients with CLL and 20 healthy donors. The samples were analyzed by flow cytometry directly after preparation.

The results of the study showed that the median percentage of CD1d-positive B cells was significantly lower in peripheral blood of patients with CLL than in healthy subjects from control group. Additionally, the percentage of CD1d+ B cells in CLL patients varied in patients with different Rai stages. We have also observed significant differences in CD1d expression depending on CD38 or ZAP70 expression. Moreover, patients with CLL had lower percentages of iNKT cells than healthy donors and the percentage of CD1d+/CD19+ cells inversely correlated with the percentage of iNKT cells. Our results suggest the important role of CD1d molecule in the development and progression of CLL, as well as its potential prognostic significance.