Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin expression in chronic myeloid leukemia.

The murine equivalent of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) was previously found to be increased by BCR-ABL expression in murine models of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Our study evaluates, in CML patients at various clinical stages, the levels of NGAL mRNA in blood samples and protein in sera. A highly significant increase of mRNA expression and protein secretion was shown in patients at diagnosis. The parallel expression of NGAL and BCR-ABL at the early stage of CML process allows us to suggest that NGAL could play an important role in the physiopathology of CML.