Single ‐cell RNA sequencing reveals chemokine self‐feeding of myeloma cells promotes extramedullary metastasis

In this study, we aimed to determine the mechanisms underlying the initial extramedullary translocation of myeloma cells from bone marrow into peripheral blood. We find that clonal circulating plasma cells (cPCs) are more frequently detected by flowcytometry in  extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP) patients and worsens their prognosis. It is technically much easier to collect single cPCs using FACS than it is to perform EMP biopsy. Therefore, combining EMP imaging with cPC detection may be a promising strategy for prognostic stratification. Here, using single‐cell transcriptome analysis, we find that the chemokine CXCL12, a key molecule involved in CXCR4‐dependent cell retention in the bone marrow, is abnormally upregulated in cPCs and might initially enable cPCs to evade bone marrow retention and translocate into the bloodstream.
Source: FEBS Letters - Category: Biochemistry Authors: Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLES Source Type: research