Two-dimensional membrane protein patterns of myeloid cells, at various stages of differentiation.

In order to detect differentiation linked and leukemia associated surface proteins, two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis patterns after lactoperoxidase labelling were made from normal promyelocyte enriched cell preparations, immature and mature myeloid cells, peripheral blood granulocytes and cells from patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Three proteins were found to be more expressed in the patterns of promyelocyte enriched cell preparations. These proteins were also seen with leukemic myeloblasts and are therefore associated with immature myeloid cells. Five surface proteins were expressed preferentially on mature myeloid cells, but not or only weakly on promyelocyte enriched preparations and absent in leukemic myeloblasts. Seven surface proteins were present at all stages of maturation and also on leukemic myeloblasts. Three surface proteins were found only in leukemic myeloblasts; these could be associated with an early stage of maturation or specifically linked with leukemia.