The expression of CD26 on the surface of PBMC was decreased in all 20 patients with ATLL compared with those from normal individuals (P < 0.01) and the expression of the CD26 gene transcript was not detectable in seven out of eight patients with ATLL.
These results indicate that ATL cells down-regulate CD26 antigens by means of epigenetic machinery and that this antigen abnormality is a useful molecular marker for the pathology of ATL.
These results indicate that ATL cells down-regulate CD26 antigens by means of epigenetic machinery and that this antigen abnormality is a useful molecular marker for the pathology of ATL.