Dysfunction involving an unusual type of thymocyte cell found in small amounts in every person may be the reason why some people develop a form of leukaemia called T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (T-ALL), it is claimed.
Researchers from the University of Missouri characterised the thymocyte cells – an immune cell present in the thymus – while studying mice with T-ALL.
They determined all of the rodent tumours originated from the same type of T cell that expresses a unique set of molecular markers.
Adam Schrum, Associate Professor of Bioengineering, Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, and Surgery, said: “Once we identified the cell in mice, we wondered if humans have that same cell type and in the same quantity. The human samples we obtained contained the same T cells and in the exact quantity found in mice.”
That rare cell, which makes up 0.01% of cells in the thymus gland, became known as EADN.
Over three years, the team examined five T-ALL cases. They found one of the cases seems to have originated from an EADN cell.
Schrum concluded: “We’re not saying that EADN is the only cell that causes this type of cancer, but our findings show it is responsible for some cases. This is a very exciting discovery.”
Image credit | Science-Photo-Library
