VLA-5⁻ myeloma plasma cells express significantly higher levels of CD126 than VLA-5⁺ plasma cells.

However, cycling (Ki-67⁺) plasma cells are VLA-5⁻ but express lower levels of CD126 than noncycling plasma cells. Box and whisker plots showing the minimum; 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles; and maximum expression of CD126 (IL-6 receptor alpha-chain) by (A) VLA-5⁺ and VLA-5⁻ myeloma plasma cells and (B) Ki-67⁻ and Ki-67⁺ myeloma plasma cells. Values shown are the K-S D values for the separation of test (CD126-PE fluorescence) and control (CD3-PE fluorescence) cumulative frequencies. P values shown are for the difference in expression levels between VLA-5⁺ versus VLA-5⁻, and Ki-67⁺ versus Ki-67⁻plasma cells, respectively (Mann-Whitney U test).