DIFFERENTIAL MAGE-1 GENE-EXPRESSION IN 2 VARIANTS OF AN ERYTHROLEUKEMIC CELL-LINE (K562)

The MAGE-1 gene encodes an antigen recognized on melanoma cells by aut ologous cytotoxic T cells. This gene shows a wide range of expression in many human turners bur not in normal tissues except for testes. We used reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assays to analyze the expression of the MAGE-1 gene in two variants of an erythroleukem ic cell line, K562. Comparison of two variants of the K562 cell line i n different stages of differentiation showed different patterns of exp ression of the MAGE-1 gene. The more undifferentiated cell line (K562A ) expressed high levels of specific MAGE-1 mRNA, in contrast to K562B, which features of erythroid differentiation, without MAGE-1 expressio n. Interestingly, we could not modulate MAGE-1 gene expression when in vitro differentiation of K562A was induced with Ara-C. Finally, our d ata indicate that MAGE-1 expression is not necessary for the maintenan ce of the transformed phenotype.