Immunophenotypic differentiation patterns of normal hematopoiesis in human bone marrow: Reference patterns for age‐related changes and disease‐induced shifts

Background The abundance of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) and the routine use of quadruple stainings in flow cytometry allow stepwise analysis of bone marrow (BM) samples that are suspected for abnormal hematopoiesis. A screening phase that precedes lineage‐specific classification phases should be sufficient to assess whether the BM has a normal or abnormal composition, as well as to identify the abnormal differentiation lineage. Methods For a quick and easy flow cytometric screening of BM samples, we selected six quadruple immunostainings that cover multiple differentiation stages of the B‐cell, monocytic, granulocytic, and erythroid lineages: TdT/CD20/CD19/CD10 and CD45/CD34/CD19/CD22 for B cells, CD34/CD117/CD45/CD13.33 for precursor granulocytic and precursor monocytic cells (myelo/monoblasts), CD14/CD33/CD45/CD34 for monocytic cells, CD16/CD13/CD45/CD11b for granulocytic cells, and CD71/CD235a/CD45/CD117 for erythroid cells. Results The six quadruple immunostainings reveal specific staining patterns in normal BM, which allow the recognition of various subpopulations of the respective lineages. These staining patterns can be used as a frame of reference for recognition of normal and abnormal BM development. Examples of normal (age‐related) variations in these otherwise stable staining patterns are presented together with several abnormal differentiation patterns. Conclusions Although alternative immunostainings can be used (e.g., including NK‐ and T‐cell markers), we feel that the selected six stainings represent a comprehensive and easy screening phase for quick identification of shifts in the composition of the studied differentiation lineages, reflecting age‐related changes or disease‐induced BM abnormalities. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.