Expression profiles of NGAL in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy individuals, untreated CLL patients and patient P16 before FCR treatment or at remission. (A) Representative RT-PCR results for three PBMCs and two purified CD19+ B cells from healthy donors, and six CLL cells from untreated patients. (B) Representative Western blot (non-reducing conditions) results (left panel) for three PBMCs and two purified CD19+ B cells from healthy donors, and three CLL cell samples from untreated CLL patients (stage A). Western blot (non-reducing conditions) results (right panel) for CLL cells of patient P16 (stage B) before FCR treatment (months 5, 7, and 12) or at remission (month 19). The primary antibodies used were anti-NGAL specific for the dimeric and monomeric forms (R&D Systems) and anti-MMP-9 which recognizes CPX (Abcam).