Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia cells depend on glutathione to counteract their high reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. However, their ability to synthesize this antioxidant is compromised by inefficient cystine uptake. Huang and colleagues now show that bone marrow stromal cells promote leukaemia cell survival by metabolizing cystine to cysteine and releasing it into the microenvironment to be taken up by leukaemia cells.
- Wan Zhang
- Dunyaporn Trachootham
- Peng Huang
