EXPRESSION OF SYNDECAN-1 IN HUMAN B-CELL CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC-LEUKEMIA

Syndecan-1 is considered an important transmembrane proteoglycan in ce ll-micro environment interactions, but its exact function in normal or in transformed B cells is still unknown. In this study, RNA was isola ted from peripheral sells of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL) and 'normal', non-leukaemic patients, as controls. Reverse PCR showed no or very low syndecan-1 mRNA expression in controls, while in 11/13 B-C LL the circulating leukaemic cells expressed syndecan-1. Similar resul ts were obtained for interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Furthermore, syndecan-1 protein was detected in the majority o f circulating B-CLL cells by flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry us ing anti-syndecan-1 MAb. Control cells were practically negative. Furt her study is required to understand the biological significance of syn decan-1 on B-CLL cells. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.