The Landscape of Leukocyte-associated Immunoglobulin-like Receptor-1/CD38 Expression in Newly Diagnosed Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Patients: Insights into Clinical and Immunehematological Profiles

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a lymphoproliferative disorder. Its diagnosis suggested by lymphocytosis and confirmed by flow cytometry. Among markers used for predicting prognosis are leukocyte-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor-1 (LAIR-1) and CD38. LAIR-1 is a transmembrane glycoprotein that acts as an inhibitor of B-cell receptor-mediated signaling, with an immune-inhibitory role. CD38 is a glycoprotein amplify B-cell receptor signaling and regulates nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide metabolism. Several studies suggest CD38 expression is associated with unfavorable prognosis. Others showed that LAIR-1 is more expressed in early stages, with lower expression in high-risk disease. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of LAIR-1 and CD38 expression on clinical, hematological and immunophenotypic presentation in the newly diagnosed CLL patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Revision of the flowcytometric and clinicohematological records of 346 newly diagnosed patients from Babylon province over the previous 3 years. RESULTS: There is no significant correlation between LAIR-1 expression and patients’ age, staging system, hematological parameters, clinical presentation, apart from B-symptoms that demonstrate negative significance, positively associated with sex. Other CD markers reflect no significant association apart from CD23 and CD11c. Significant positive correlation between CD38 expression and stage, weight loss, splenomegaly, CD79b, sIgm, CD31 and CD200. Negatively significant link is noted with asymptomatic presentation, LAP and platelet count. Both markers in conjunction show significant correlation with sex, weight loss, splenomegaly, B-symptoms, asymptomatic presentation, hematological count, CD79b, sIgm and CD200. CONCLUSION: Co-expression of LAIR-1 and CD38 demonstrates a potential relationship with certain parameters for CLL at the time of diagnosis; this could be integrated into both prognostic and predictive scoring systems used to evaluate outcome in CLL.