IL-21 regulates the expression of chemokine genes in B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia

B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a common type of leukemia, characterized by the progressive accumulation of CD5+ mature monoclonal B lymphocytes in peripheral blood, bone marrow and lymphoid tissues. Although circulating CLL cells are non-dividing cells, prone to spontaneous apoptosis, their progressive accumulation is the result of a dynamic balance between cell death and proliferation and a high turn-over rate has been related to a poor prognosis. Indeed, CLL cells are protected from apoptosis and proliferate in specific niches within the lymphoid tissues and the bone marrow.

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