A novel B-CLL specific nuclear protein (p44/46)

Our previous results indicated some diversities in electrophoretic patterns of proteins from different cellular fractions, i.e. nuclear, mitochondrial, microsomal and cytosolic isolated from mononuclear cells from the peripheral blood of B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) patients and healthy donors. Major differences were observed in electrophoretic banding of nuclear proteins from normal and transformed cells, especially in molecular mass region of 37-52 kDa. Electrophoretically-specific nuclear protein with molecular mass of 44/46 kDa of cells originating from B-CLL patients was used for raising polyclonal antiserum. As it was determined by Western blot technique (with alkaline phosphatase) obtained antiserum recognized 44/46 kDa antigen of nuclear fraction from B-CLL and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells, but not from normal ones. Our preliminary data were revealed that this antiserum shows no crossreactivity with leukemic nuclear proteins of patients with T cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (T-CLL) and neither with nuclear polypeptides from either normal or cancerous (adenocarcinoma) stomach and colon mucosa. Immunological analysis was shown that higher expression of this particular antigen seems to correlate with progression of B-CLL. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.