ABSTRACT
Th e role of adhesion molecules in migration and activation of mature cells from peripheral blood has been extensively studied. Nevertheless, only recently is there accumulating evidence that they play a key role in the physiological control of the fate, migration and homing of hematopoietic stem cells. In addition, compared to their normal counterparts, leukemic stem cells and progenitors have a distinct expression profi le of adhesion molecules, which mediate the interaction with the bone marrow microenvironment, thus contributing to survival advantage. In the distinct Acute Myelogenous Leukemia subtype termed Acute Promyelocytic
Leukemia, the modulation of adhesion molecules by diff erentiating agents such as the all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide constitute the molecular basis of diff erentiation syndrome, a life-threatening complication of the treatment. In the present chapter, we review some key aspects of the role of adhesion molecules in normal and malignant hematopoiesis.
