alpha-synuclein and Leukemia

α-Synuclein is a key component of the Lewy body, a large globular protein complex that forms in the nervous system of patients with Parkinson disease and other dementias [1-3]. Since α-synuclein also occurs in megakaryocytic and erythroid lineages [4-7], we wondered what role synucleins had in the hematopoietic system. Therefore, we studied the expression of α-, β-, and γ-synucleins in a comprehensive panel of patient bone marrows and leukemic cell lines. We observed under expression of α-synuclein in the megakaryocytes of myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN), but not normal reactive marrow (NRM) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Conversely, we observed over expression of β-synuclein in the blasts of megakaryoblastic leukemias (MegL), but not acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or erythroleukemia (EryL), suggesting that α- and β-synucleins could be useful adjunct markers for the early detection of MDS and the differential diagnosis of EryL and MegL from other AMLs.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; alpha-Synuclein; beta-Synuclein; Biomarkers; Bone Marrow; Cell Line, Tumor; Child; Child, Preschool; Diagnosis, Differential; Early Detection of Cancer; Female; gamma-Synuclein; Humans; Leukemia; Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute; Leukemia, Megakaryoblastic, Acute; Male; Megakaryocyte-Erythroid Progenitor Cells; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Proteins