Expression of CD47 on peripheral blood cells in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria

Objective:To investigate the role of CD47 in pathogenesis of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). Method:The expression of CD47 on peripheral blood cells in PNH patients and normal people were investigated with immunofluorescence technique by flow cytometry (FCM), normal people group served as controls. The PIG-A gene mutation in PNH patients was assessed with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, het-eroduplex analysis (RT-PCR-HA) and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). Result:Six patients with PNH were found having abnormality in exon 2 of PIG-A gene. The percentage of CD47 + and the mean channel fluorescence (MCF) of granulocyte and erythrocytes labeled with anti-CD47-FITC in PNH patients both decreased compared with the controls. Conclusion:The expression of CD47 on blood cells in PNH patients decreased. It's inferred that CD47 is perhaps related to the pathogenesis of PNH.