RESUMO
AIM:To determine the biological feature of circulating endothelial cells (CECs) in acute promye-locytic leukemia ( APL) patients before and after treatment , and to analyze the relationship between CECs and the clinical characteristics .METHODS: The CECs were sorted from peripheral blood by magnetic-activated cell sorting and then counted by 3-color flow cytometry.The cells were identified by immunofluorescence staining for the expression of CD 146, CD31, CD144, VEGFR-2, CD45 and CD133.The CECs were cultured in vitro, and the tube formation and colony-forming rate were determined .RESULTS:Increased quantity of CECs was observed in CD 34 positive group and group with WBC >10 ×109/L (P<0.05).The quantity of CECs had a significant difference among low risk , medium risk and high risk groups (P<0.05).The positive rate of CD133 and quantity of CECs significantly reduced in 32 APL patients when they gain complete remission after treatment (P<0.05).The amount of tube formation and colony-forming rate were significant-ly reduced after treatment (P<0.05).The ratio of CECs quantity from APL patients after treatment to that before treatment had a negative correlation with arsenic concentration in urine on day 7 during As2O3 treatment (P<0.05).CONCLU-SION:Accurately counting CECs may be helpful for evaluating prognosis and designing treatment strategy .
