Turk J Haematol. 2017 Sep 8. doi: 10.4274/tjh.2017.0209. [Epub ahead of print]

Biological features of bone marrow Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Genitsari S, Stiakaki E, Perdikogianni C, Martimianaki G, Pelagiadis I, Pesmatzoglou M, Kalmanti M, Dimitriou H.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSC) have a supportive role in hematopoiesis and as components of the bone marrow microenvironment may present alterations during ALL and be affected by chemotherapeutic agents. We examined the biological and functional characteristics of MSC at ALL diagnosis and treatment and their effect on MSC qualitative properties.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Immunophenotypic characterization, evaluation of clonogenicity and proliferative capacity were performed. Apoptotic features, cell cycle analysis, SDF-1a and Angiopoietin-1 levels in MSC supernatant at diagnosis and in different phases of treatment were assessed. Chemotherapy was administered according to the BFM-2000 protocol. BM samples from children with solid tumors, without BM involvement, were used as the control group.

RESULTS:

The morphology, the immunophenotypic profile and the apoptotic characteristics of the MSC are not affected by leukemia.The secretion of factors involved in the trafficking of hematopoietic cells in the BM seems to be up-regulated at diagnosis in comparison to the treatment phases. MSC are influenced by the disease in their functional characteristics such as clonogenicity and proliferation rate. These effects cease as soon as treatment is initiated. Chemotherapy does not seem to exert any effect on any of the MSC features examined.

CONCLUSIONS:

MSC from children with ALL are affected from their interaction with the leukemic environment but this phenomenon ceases upon treatment initiation, while no effect is observed by chemotherapy itself.