Implications of Heterogeneity in Multiple Myeloma

Table 7

Summary of differential gene expression between CD 138− and CD 138+ subsets. The list of genes is not exhaustive but includes selected genes of importance described in the studies.

Study	Gene	Differential expression	Function
Reghunathan et al. 2013 [73]	PRC2 related; (EZH2, EED, SUZ12); PRC1 related; (BMI1)	Upregulated in CD 138− subset.	Via histone methylation, reduces the expression of p21 and other CDK inhibitors, driving proliferation.
	BMP 2, BMP3, BMP4	Upregulated in CD 138+ subset	Promote differentiation of plasmablasts to mature plasma cells.
Yang et al. 2013 [78]	RARα2	Upregulated in CD 138− subset.	Increased ALDH expression, increased activity of WNT and Hedgehog pathway signaling as well as Cyclin D1.
	Oct 4, SOX 2, Nanog, Lin 28A	Upregulated in CD 138− subset	Genes expressed in pluripotent stem cells.