Flow cytometric studies on actin polymerization in PMN cells from chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients

• Published in: Leukemia research Vol. 14; no. 10; pp. 921 - 930
• Main Authors: Naik, Nishigandha R., Bhisey, Avinash N., Advani, Suresh H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 1990
• Subjects: Actin; Actins - metabolism; Amanitins; CML; Flow Cytometry; FMLP; Humans; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive - blood; Microscopy, Fluorescence; N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine - metabolism; N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine - pharmacology; Neutrophils - metabolism; PMN; Polymers; PMN; PBS; CML; Mean fl; Actin; DMSO; flow cytometry; FMLP; EB; M; NBD-ph; PMNL
• ISSN: 0145-2126; 1873-5835
• DOI: 10.1016/0145-2126(90)90183-A

Studies in our laboratory have shown that polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNL) from chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients are defective in chemotaxis towards a synthetic peptide, n-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP), during the active phases of the disease and in remission. Actin plays a major role in cellular movements and binding of chemo-attractant to cells induces polymerization of G-actin to F-actin. We have, therefore, compared polymerization of actin in FMLP stimulated PMNL from CML patients with those from normal subjects by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry, using F-actin specific probe, NBD-phallacidin. Our results show that binding of FMLP to normal PMNL induces rapid conversion of G-actin to F-actin followed by depolymerization to some extent. In CML PMNL, such a biphasic response is not seen. Conversion of G-actin to F-actin is slower and F-actin content is significantly lower than that in normal PMNL. Moreover, organization of F-actin is different in CML PMNL as compared to that in normal PMNL.