Blockage of autophagic flux is associated with lymphocytosis and higher percentage of tumoral cells in chronic lymphocytic leukemia of B cells

• Published in: Clinical & translational oncology Vol. 21; no. 9; pp. 1280 - 1285
• Main Authors: Romero-Macías, J.-R., Pascual-Serra, R., Roche, O., Ruiz-Marcos, F., Serrano-Martínez, A., González-Aguado, P., Belandia, B., Ruiz-Hidalgo, M.-J., Sánchez-Prieto, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01-09-2019
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Autophagy; Biomarkers, Tumor - metabolism; Brief Research Article; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell - metabolism; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell - pathology; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - metabolism; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - pathology; Lymphocytosis - metabolism; Lymphocytosis - pathology; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Oncology; Pilot Projects; Prognosis; Chronic lymphocytic leukemia; Autophagy; p62; LC3; Autophagic flux
• ISSN: 1699-048X; 1699-3055
• DOI: 10.1007/s12094-019-02041-x

Purpose
Autophagy has lately emerged as an important biological process with implications in several hematological pathologies. Recently, a growing body of evidence supports a putative role of autophagy in chronic lymphocytic leukemia; however, no definitive clue has been established so far. To elucidate this issue, we have developed a pilot study to measure autophagic flux in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients, and explored its correlation with classical clinical/analytical parameters.
Methods/patients
Thirty-three chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients participated in the study. Autophagic flux in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was determined by western blot measuring the levels of the proteins p62 and lipidated LC3. Moreover, p62 mRNA levels were analyzed by RT-qPCR.
Results
Lymphocytosis and the percentage of tumoral lymphocytes in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients statistically correlate with a blocked autophagic flux.
Conclusion
Alterations in autophagic flux could play an important role in the physiopathology of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.