INCREASED APOPTOTIC CELLS IN BONE-MARROW BIOPSIES FROM PATIENTS WITH APLASTIC-ANEMIA

In order to investigate the involvement of apoptosis in the pathogenes is of aplastic anaemia (AA) we determined the proportion of apoptotic cells in paraffin-embedded bone marrow biopsies from patients with apl astic anaemia using an in situ TdT-catalysed DNA nick end labelling (T UNEL) staining method. A significant increase in the proportion of mon onuclear apoptotic cells was demonstrated in biopsies from patients wi th aplastic anaemia (8.19 +/- 1.45%) when compared with controls (2.07 +/- 0 86%). These data support the view that apoptosis may play a rol e in the pathophysiology of bone marrow failure.