Molecular analysis of transferrin receptor mRNA expression in acute myeloid leukaemia

Transferrin receptor (TfR, CD71) is an integral membrane glycoprotein that mediates cellular uptake of iron. In most tissues, TfR expression is correl ated positively with proliferation and regulated at the post-transcriptiona l level. The available data regarding the pattern of TfR gene expression in haematological malignancies are very Limited. In the present study, we eva luated TfR gene expression at the molecular level in bone marrow (BM) sampl es of 44 patients with de novo acute myeloid leukaemia (AXIL) at diagnosis with BM blasts > 85%. TfR mRNA levels were determined by densitometric anal ysis of quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction produc ts corresponding to TfR exons 15-17. Each sample was tested in at least two independent experiments. In 13/44 patients, TfR messages were not detected (this is probably an underestimate as some positive results may be attribu ted to residual normal erythroid cells present in the samples). In 17/44, T fR mRNA levels were low-intermediate, and were high in the remaining patien ts (14/44). TfR mRNA positivity was significantly associated with older age . No statistically significant correlations were found either with specific French-American-British (FAB) subtypes or attainment of complete remission , incidence of relapse and survival (after adjusting accordingly for age an d FAB subtype). The absence of TfR mRNA transcripts in a significant minori ty of cases suggests that alternative mechanisms of iron uptake may functio n in AML blast cells.