calcimycin and Polycythemia-Vera

Leukotriene (LT) formation was studied in ionophore A23187-stimulated white blood cell (WBC) preparations from patients with chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML; n = 14), polycythaemia vera (PV; n = 10) and two control groups consisting of patients with non-malignant inflammatory disease (n = 4) and normal healthy donors (n = 25). The synthesized products were identified and quantitated using high-performance liquid chromatography combined with computerized UV-spectroscopy. White blood cell preparations from the CML patients produced more LTC4 (40.2 +/- 7.9 pmol/10(6) WBC, mean +/- SEM) than WBC from the healthy donors (9.0 +/- 1.8), P less than 0.0005. In contrast, the formation of LTB4 was normal and there was no increase in the total leukotriene synthesis (the sum of LTC4, LTB4, 20-OH-LTB4 and the delta 6-trans-isomers of LTB4). The ratio between leukotrienes C4 and B4 was strongly elevated in the CML group; 1.67 +/- 0.25 v. 0.37 +/- 0.07 in the controls, P less than 0.0005. No significant correlation was observed between the levels of LTC4 and the number of known LTC4 producing cells (such as monocytes, eosinophils and basophils) in the CML WBC preparations. In contrast, a correlation was found between the sum of neutrophilic granulocytes and metamyelocytes in these suspensions and the amount of LTB4 formed; r = 0.600, P less than 0.05. A number of other laboratory or clinical variables of the CML patients (including total white blood cell and platelet counts, differential counts, previous cytotoxic treatment, time from diagnosis, time from last treatment, post study survival and age) did not significantly correlate with the formation of leukotrienes. No abnormality in the production of LTB4 or LTC4 was observed in granulocyte and WBC preparations from the patients with polycythaemia vera and non-malignant inflammatory disease, respectively. The results indicate a selectively increased LTC4 producing capacity in CML.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Blood Cell Count; Calcimycin; Cells, Cultured; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Female; Granulocytes; Humans; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive; Leukocytes; Male; Middle Aged; Polycythemia Vera; SRS-A

The arachidonate metabolism by leukocytes and platelets was studied in 14 patients with myeloproliferative disorders including 7 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), 5 with polycythemia vera (PV) and 2 with essential thrombocythemia (ET). When the leukocytes were incubated with arachidonate and A23187, leukotriene B4 and hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs) were constantly detected using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography in normal subjects, while selective deficiency of 5-lipoxygenase products (leukotriene B4 and 5-HETE) was found in 4 patients with CML. this novel abnormality of the leukocytes seemed to be derived from the possible deficiency of 5-lipoxygenase in these patients' polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNNs). The formation of 15-HETE appeared to be almost normal in all the patients. Platelet 12-lipoxygenase deficiency was detected in 2 patients with PV and 2 with CML in whom one was associated with the deficiency of 5-lipoxygenase products. These bicellular abnormalities of the arachidonate metabolism might contribute to understand dysfunctions of PMNNs and platelets in some patients with myeloproliferative disorders.

Topics: Arachidonate Lipoxygenases; Arachidonic Acid; Arachidonic Acids; Blood Platelets; Calcimycin; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Leukemia, Myeloid; Leukocytes; Leukotriene B4; Lipoxygenase; Myeloproliferative Disorders; Polycythemia Vera; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; Thrombocytosis