TAX mRNA and KIR3DL2 protein expressions correlate in primary ATL tumor cells. Primary ATL cells from 3 patients were cultured in vitro for 12 to 15 hours before the PrimeFlow RNA assay. For 2 of the patients (P18 and P28), TAX mRNA expression and KIR3DL2 cell surface protein expression were quantified with the ImageStream X Mark II imaging flow cytometer. (A) The expression of TAX mRNA was higher in tumor cells expressing KIR3DL2 (red) than in those not expressing it (blue). (B) Two illustrative images of ImageStream experiments. Cells were probed for the positive control RPL13A, KIR3DL2, and TAX mRNA expression and run on the ImageStream. Bar represents 7 μm. Tumor cells coexpress KIR3DL2 and TAX mRNA with a cytoplasmic localization or express neither KIR3DL2 nor TAX mRNA. (C) Correlation between TAX mRNA expression and KIR3DL2 cell surface protein expression quantified with the ImageStream for 2 of the patients (P18 and P28). The P value and Spearman correlation coefficient are indicated.