Initial assessment of α-synuclein structure in platelets.

Over the last few years data from our group have indicated that α-synuclein is important in development of immune cells as well as potentially erythrocytes and platelets. The latter is important since this protein may work as negative regulator of granule release. Thus, we sought to begin to understand the structure of this protein in platelets.

CD177 Enhances the Detection of Myelodysplastic Syndrome by Flow Cytometry.

Objectives: Previously we demonstrated that a decreased percentage of CD177-positive granulocytes detected by flow cytometry (FCM) was associated with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Here we expand on those findings to more rigorously evaluate the utility of CD177 for the detection of MDS.

Methods: Two hundred patient samples (100 MDS and 100 controls) were evaluated for granulocyte expression of CD177 and 11 other flow cytometric parameters known to be associated with MDS.

Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia with prominent CD141+ myeloid dendritic cell differentiation.

Myeloid malignancies showing CD141+ myeloid dendritic cell (MDC) differentiation have not been documented. Here, we describe a patient with juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia in which a prominent CD141+ cell population was identified most consistent with CD141+ MDCs based on phenotypic similarity with normal CD141+ MDCs. Molecular studies demonstrated a KRAS mutation.

CD1c(+) myeloid dendritic cells in myeloid neoplasia.

We determined the normal level and phenotype of CD1c(+) myeloid dendritic cells (MDCs) in blood and bone marrow and evaluated the level of CD1c(+) MDCs in 295 myeloid neoplasms. CD1c(+) MDCs were increased above the mean level of non-neoplastic hospital controls in 18.0% (53/295) of myeloid malignancies, increased three standard deviations above the control mean in 14.