At this time point, both BMSC and CD40L alone protected primary CLL cells from spontaneous apoptosis although statistical significance was not reached (Figure 1C) (mean % of viable cells in suspension vs. co-cultured with BMSC vs. with CD40L: 47.95±5.27 vs. 65.05±7.02 vs.53.53±5.95, P=n.s). The gene discussed is CD40LG; the disease is B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.