Objective: To explore the effects of p210 bcr/abl fusion gene on expression of beta1 integrin and L-selectin mRNAs in mouse chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells.

Methods: Comparisons of beta1 integrin and L-selectin mRNA levels among p210 bcr/abl negative, p210 bcr/abl positive, and p210 bcr/abl-Rb-C-Box positive cells were undertaken by quantity RT-PCR.

Results: In p210 bcr/abl positive cells, L-selectin mRNA level was decreased, but beta1 integrin mRNA expression had no change as compared to those in p210 bcr/abl negative cells. When inhibition of bcr-abl tyrosine kinase activity by Rb-C-Box, the L-selectin mRNA expression restored to normal (similar to p210 bcr/abl negative cells).

Conclusions: p210 bcr/abl oncoprotein inhibits expression of L-selectin mRNA, but not of beta1 integrin mRNA.