Expression of adhesion factor CD239 in bone marrow cells in chronic myeloproliferative diseases.

Patients suffering from Philadelphia chromosome-negative chronic myeloproliferative disease (Ph(-) CMPD), such as polycythaemia vera (PV), are frequently JAK2(V617F)-mutated and have an elevated risk for thromboembolic complications. Recent data indicated that the molecular basis of JAK2(V617F) and thrombosis might be related to increased expression of CD239, the Lutheran blood group/basal cell adhesion molecule, in PV-derived red blood cells. The aim of this study was to clarify whether JAK2(V617F) PV with thromboembolism is characterised by CD239 overexpression.