Isolation of lymph shows dysregulation of STAT3 and CREB pathways in the spleen and liver during leukemia development in a rat model

Background and aims: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous malignant condition characterized by massive infiltration of poorly differentiated white blood cells in the blood stream, bone marrow, and extramedullary sites. During leukemic development, hepatosplenomegaly is expected to occur because large blood volumes are continuously filtered through these organs. We asked whether infiltration of leukemic blasts initiated a response that could be detected in the interstitial fluid phase of the spleen and liver.

Material and methods: We used a rat model known to mimic human AML in growth characteristics and behavior. By cannulating efferent lymphatic vessels from the spleen and liver, we were able to monitor the response of the microenvironment during AML development.

Results and discussion: Flow cytometric analysis of lymphocytes showed increased STAT3 and CREB signaling in spleen and depressed signaling in liver, and proteins related to these pathways were identified with a different profile in lymph and plasma in AML compared with control. Additionally, several proteins were differently regulated in the microenvironment of spleen and liver in AML when compared with control.

Conclusion: Interstitial fluid, and its surrogate efferent lymph, can be used to provide unique information about responses in AML-infiltered organs and substances released to the general circulation during leukemia development.