Elevation of soluble CD307 (IRTA2/FcRH5) protein in the blood and expression on malignant cells of patients with multiple myeloma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and mantle cell lymphoma

CD307 is a differentiation antigen expressed in B-lineage cells. One soluble and two membrane-bound forms have been predicted and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA) for soluble CD307 established. Our goal was to determine if CD307 is expressed on the surface of cells from patients with multiple myeloma ( MM), chronic lymphocytic leukemia ( CLL), mantle cell lymphoma ( MCL) and other B-cell malignancies and if soluble CD307 levels are elevated in the blood of patients with these B-cell malignancies. Cells and blood were collected from patients. Expression of CD307 was measured by flow cytometry and blood levels of soluble CD307 by ELISA. High soluble CD307 levels were detected in 21/43 ( 49%) of patients with MM, 36/46 ( 78%) with CLL and 9/24 ( 38%) with MCL. Soluble CD307 levels correlated with plasma cell percentages in bone marrow aspirates in MM and total white blood cells in CLL. CD307 on the cell membrane was detected by flow cytometry in 8/8 MM, 23/29 CLL and 4/5 MCL samples. Because CD307 is present on malignant cells from patients with MM, CLL and MCL, CD307 may be a useful therapeutic target for the treatment of these diseases.