idw – Informationsdienst Wissenschaft

Nachrichten, Termine, Experten

Grafik: idw-Logo
Science Video Project
idw-Abo

idw-News App:

AppStore

Google Play Store



Instance:
Share on: 
02/01/2008 09:23

Genesis of adult leukemia mapped

Åke Hjelm Informationsavdelningen / Communications Department
Schwedischer Forschungsrat - The Swedish Research Council

    Long-term bacterial infections like pneumonia can cause a type of white blood corpuscle to transform into tumor cells. A study from Linköping University in Sweden and elsewhere explains how this can be the genesis of the disease chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

    Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)-­the most common form of leukemia in adults-­arises from a special type of white blood corpuscle, B lymphocytes, which normally produce antibodies to combat bacteria and viruses that we are exposed to. It is not known today what events lead to this disease.

    A research team headed by Anders Rosén, professor of cell biology at Linköping University, has now established for the first time that the antibodies that CLL cells produce are highly specialized to recognize certain structures on the surface of bacteria and the body's own proteins (autoantigens).

    The findings are being published on Monday in the respected hematological journal Blood. The key point is that the CLL antibodies also bind to damaged and dying (apoptotic) cells, which indicates that the B lymphocytes that give rise to CLL may be frontline defense cells. These are thought to have the extremely important task of using their antibodies to rapidly reveal the slightest breach in damaged mucous lining or skin, created by bacteria or other microorganisms.

    But in long-term infections, these B lymphocytes can start to multiply excessively and rapidly. This increases the risk of chromosome damage, which in turn can cause them to turn into leukemia cells. The study now being published contributes to our understanding of how these B lymphocytes function and why they can be transformed into tumors.

    CLL afflicts 400-500 people in Sweden each year, primarily among those aged 65-70 and more often among men than women. The disease has a highly varied course, with many patients living for decades with hardly any treatment, while others die within a few years despite treatment.

    The research team behind the study also includes the doctoral students Eva Hellqvist and Anna Lanemo-Myrhinder, Linköping University, and Sohvi Hörkkö, Oulu, Finland, and Richard Rosenquist, Uppsala, Sweden.

    The article, "A new perspective: molecular motifs on oxidized-LDL, apoptotic cells, and bacteria are targets for chronic lymphocytic leukemia antibodies" is being published in Blood's First Edition Papers.

    Contact: Anders Rosén, phone: +46 (0)13-222794; cell phone: +46 (0)707-303460, anders.rosen@ibk.liu.se

    Pressofficer Åke Hjelm; ake.hjelm@liu.se; +46-13 281 395


    More information:

    http://bloodjournal.hematologylibrary.org/papbyrecent.dtl article


    Images

    Criteria of this press release:
    Biology, Information technology, Medicine, Nutrition / healthcare / nursing
    transregional, national
    Research results
    English


     

    Help

    Search / advanced search of the idw archives
    Combination of search terms

    You can combine search terms with and, or and/or not, e.g. Philo not logy.

    Brackets

    You can use brackets to separate combinations from each other, e.g. (Philo not logy) or (Psycho and logy).

    Phrases

    Coherent groups of words will be located as complete phrases if you put them into quotation marks, e.g. “Federal Republic of Germany”.

    Selection criteria

    You can also use the advanced search without entering search terms. It will then follow the criteria you have selected (e.g. country or subject area).

    If you have not selected any criteria in a given category, the entire category will be searched (e.g. all subject areas or all countries).