The Involvement of NF-κB Subunits in the Interaction Between CLL-B Cells and Bone Marrow Stromal Cells

To investigate the function of NF-κB signaling pathway in the interaction between chronic lymphocytic leukemia B cells and bone marrow stromal cells.

The expression of NF-κB family members at mRNA and protein levels were examined by quantitative RT-PCR and Western bloting analyses individualy, and the differences between CLL-human bone marrow stromal cell (hBMSC) and non-CLL-hBMSC were investigated with the methods above. Cell death was measured by flow cytometry analysis after B-CLL cells were co-cultured with hBMSC and treated with proteasome inhibitors. The changes of NF-κB expression at the protein levels were examined by Western bloting after co-culture experiment.

The expression of NF-κB family members turned out to be heterogeneous at both mRNA and protein levels in B-CLL cells, and the members demonstrated a different κB-DNA binding activities. The mRNA expression of NF-κB family members in B-CLL cells was shown at a remarkable higher level than that of the controls. The relative mRNA expression of relA was 0.0214±0.012, whereas it was 0.0130±0.012 for the controls of CD19 positive cells. The relative mRNA expression of p50 and p52 were 66.0860±21.649 and 0.0208±0.011 respectively, and the corresponding expression of CD19 positive cells were 24.8440±9.749 and 0.0065±0.002. The differences were statistically significant. There was no notable difference between CLL-hBMSC and Non-CLL-hBMSC. hBMSC protected B-CLL cells against the proteasome inhibitors and facilitated the survival of B-CLL cells.

NF-κB expression is heterogeneous in bone marrow B-CLL cells. There is no significant difference between CLL-hBMSC and non-CLL-hBMSC. hBMSC can protect the survival of B-CLL cells dependending on the endogenous NF-κB activity. hBMSC can increase the drug resistance of B-CLL cells to proteasome inhibitors.

No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.