LY86, LRG1 and PDE9A genes overexpression in umbilical cord blood hematopoietic stem progenitor cells by acute myeloid leukemia (M3) microvesicles

Abstract Background Microvesicles as a new device of cell–cell communication are potentially able to induce some phenotypes and genotypes of an origin cell in a target cell. We evaluate the role of leukemia microvesicles on the leukemia stem cells (LSCs)-specific genes expression in healthy hematopoietic stem progenitor cells (HSPCs). Methods HL-60 and NB-4 cell lines were selected for microvesicles isolation by ultracentrifugation. Healthy HSPCs were obtained by magnetic association cell sorting (MACS) and CD-34 micro-beads from umbilical cord blood samples and then, were treated with 20 and 40 μg/ml leukemia microvesicles for 10 days, respectively. LY86, LRG1 and PDE9A genes expression as LSC specific genes were analyzed by QRT-PCR. Surface CD-34 antigen as stemness marker was measured by flow cytometry technique. Results Healthy HSPCs showed a significant increase in LSC specific genes expression after treatment with both 20 and 40 μg/ml leukemia microvesicles at day 10. All studied groups showed more than 70% surface CD-34 antigen at the last day of experiment which proved HSPCs stemness. Conclusion Our results suggest that healthy HSPCs can be transformed genetically by leukemia microvesicles to over express LSC specific genes. This may be further evidence of leukemia-like transformation by leukemia microvesicles.