To gain insights into the functional role of SPINK2 in AML, its expression was initially assessed in several AML cell lines by qPCR and Western blotting, both of which showed a high expression in CD34+ cells (GDM1, ME-1, KG1a) and a low/negligible expression in CD34- cells (NB-4, OCIAML3 and MOLM13) (Figure 3A). Here, CD34 is linked to acute myeloid leukemia.