High expression of CaMKIIγ is associated with leukemia stem cells of CML. (A-C) CaMKIIγ was highly activated in leukemia stem cells (LSCs) with a concomitant increased β-catenin(g) but not in normal hematopoietic cells (HSCs) and normal blood cells. LSCs and HSCs were sorted from primary CML samples of CML patients at blast crisis and normal cord blood samples, respectively, using FACS. (D) CaMKIIγ increased β-catenin and phospho-Stat3 proteins of leukemia cells. K562 cells were transfected with CaMKIIγ expression vector for 48 hours and then analyzed for β-catenin and Stat3 proteins by Western blot. (E-F) β-catenin and Stat3 protein physically interacted with CaMKIIγ in leukemia cells. Leukemia cell lysates were incubated with CaMKIIγ or Stat3 antibody, and the immune complexes were then purified, separated by SDS-PAGE, and immunoblotted with β-catenin, Stat3, or CaMKII γ antibody.