New insight of leukemic stem cell

Abstract

Human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) derives from rare leukemic stem cells (LSCs). Relapse of disease can be ascribed to LSCs to some degree. Currently, a number of surface markers of AML LSCs have been identified, including CD123, CD44, CLL-1, CD96, CD47, CD32, CD25 and TIM-3. Moreover, monoclonal antibodies targeting some markers have demonstrated efficacy in xenotransplantation models. In our recent work, we found that N-cadherin and Tie2 positive CD34 + CD38 - CD123 + populations could develop acute myeloid leukemia more effectively in NOD/SCID mice than their negative counterparts at the same doses. Meanwhile, the blast cells from the bone marrow of leukemic mice are transplantable. It is speculated that FLT3-ITD mutation could make the LSCs more capable of expanding in the environment. These data suggested that N-cadherin and Tie2 were very important in development of leukemia as LSC markers.