EXPRESSION OF THE LEPTIN RECEPTOR IN HUMAN LEUKEMIC BLAST CELLS

The leptin receptor is a member of the cytokine receptor superfamily, and is expressed in CD34 haemopoietic stem cells. We examined expressi on of the leptin receptor in fresh human leukaemia cells. Northern blo t analysis showed the leptin receptor was expressed in leukaemic cells from patients with acute myeloblastic leukaemia, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). In CML, higher expressi on was observed in blast crisis than in chronic phase. The expression of leptin receptor decreased during in vitro differentiation of leukae mic blast cells. It appeared that expression of the leptin receptor wa s associated with immature leukaemic blast cells. Our findings may ind icate the possibility that leptin has some role in leukaemia.