The Evaluation of Wnt Pathway Proteins (Wnt-1/Β-Catenin/ E-Cadherin) in Bone Marrow Biopsies in Essential Thrombocythemia and Polycythemia Vera

Abstract

The aim of the study is to investigate the expressions of Wnt signal pathway proteins (Wnt 1/Β Catenin/E Cadherin) in polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia. In addition to 25 Polycythemia vera and 25 Essential thrombocytosis cases who received bone marrow biopsies with the diagnoses of Polycythemia vera and Essential thrombocytosis, 25 normocellular bone marrow biopsies were included as the control group. In cells belonging to erythroid, myeloid and megakaryocytic series in the bone marrow biopsies of the cases, Wnt 1, β catenin and E cadherin expressions were examined by the immunohistochemical method. For each series, staining up to 10% was accepted as negative, and 10% and higher staining was accepted as positive. In the Essential thrombocytosis cases, there was a significant increase in the Wnt 1 expression in the megakaryocytic series and E cadherin expression in the erythroid series (p<0.05). When the cases were assessed within themselves based on the three series, an increase in E cadherin and E cadherin expression in the erythroid series in the Polycythemia vera cases and Wnt 1 expression in the megakaryocytic series in the Essential thrombocytosis cases was observed (p<0.05). β catenin expression was not encountered in the cases. Consequently, it was considered that Wnt 1 may be associated with megakaryocytopoiesis in ET cases, and E cadherin may be associated with erythropoiesis in ET cases. However, it will be beneficial to repeat the study on broader myeloproliferative neoplasm series and assess other factors in the Wnt pathway.

Keywords: Essential Thrombocytosis, Polycythemia Vera, Wnt 1, β catenin, E cadherin

DOI: 10.7176/JSTR/7-06-04