Essential thrombocytosis and polycythemia vera bone marrow biopsies diseases of wnt pathway proteins (Wnt-1/beta-katenin / E-cadherin) evaluation

Polycythemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocytosis (ET) are myeloproliferative neoplasms that are derived from hematopoietic stem cells. Different pathways are involved in hematopoietic stem cell renewal and differentiation stages. The Wnt signaling pathway is one of these pathways. Although the effects of Wnt signaling pathway in the hematopoietic system is partially known, few studies have been performed for the evaluation of this pathway in bone marrow. In our study, Wnt signal pathway (Wnt-1, ß-catenin, E-cadherin) is compared between hematopoietic stem cell-derived PV,ET, and normal bone marrow tissue to investigate a possible role in the pathogenesisIn this study, 25 PV ,25 ET cases and 25 normocellular bone marrow biopsy as control group were included . Wnt-1, ß-catenin and E-cadherin expression was evaluated in the erythroid, myeloid cells and megakaryocytes by immunohistochemical method. Up to 10% of each series staining was considered negative, and over 10% of staining was considered positive.Wnt-1 expression in megacaryocytes and E-cadherin expression in erythroid series of patients with ET was significantly increased. The cases themselves are evaluated over each of the three series of patients. Increased E-cadherin expression in the erythroid series was noted in cases with PV and increased Wnt-1 expression in megakaryocytes was noted in cases with ET .No ß-catenin expression was detected in our cases.In conclusion, these results indicate that Wnt-1 may be associated with megakaryopoesis in ET and E- cadherin with erythropoiesis in patients with ET. However, studies with larger patient population and evaluating other factors in the Wnt pathway for myeloproliferative neoplasms would be appropriate.