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Kinds of BM Terms modified by BM Selected AbstractsHuman peripheral blood B-cell compartments: A crossroad in B-cell traffic,CYTOMETRY, Issue S1 2010M. Perez-Andres Abstract A relatively high number of different subsets of B-cells are generated through the differentiation of early B-cell precursors into mature B-lymphocytes in the bone marrow (BM) and antigen-triggered maturation of germinal center B-cells into memory B-lymphocytes and plasmablasts in lymphoid tissues. These B-cell subpopulations, which are produced in the BM and lymphoid tissues, recirculate through peripheral blood (PB), into different tissues including mucosa and the BM, where long-living plasma cells produce antibodies. These circulating PB B-cells can be classified according to their maturation stage into i) immature/transitional, ii) naïve, and iii) memory B-lymphocytes, and iv) plasmablasts/plasma cells. Additionally, unique subsets of memory B-lymphocytes and plasmablasts/plasma cells can be identified based on their differential expression of unique Ig-heavy chain isotypes (e.g.: IgM, IgD, IgG, IgA). In the present paper, we review recent data reported in the literature about the distribution, immunophenotypic and functional characteristics of these cell subpopulations, as well as their distribution in PB according to age and seasonal changes. Additional information is also provided in this regard based on the study of a population-based cohort of 600 healthy adults aged from 20 to 80 years, recruited in the Salamanca area in western Spain. Detailed knowledge of the distribution and traffic of B-cell subsets through PB mirrors the immune status of an individual subject and it may also contribute to a better understanding of B-cell disorders related to B-cell biology and homeostasis, such as monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis (MBL). © 2010 International Clinical Cytometry Society [source] Bone marrow cells from myelodysplastic syndromes show altered immunophenotypic profiles that may contribute to the diagnosis and prognostic stratification of the disease: A pilot study on a series of 56 patients,CYTOMETRY, Issue 3 2010Sergio Matarraz Abstract A heterogeneous spectrum of immunophenotypic abnormalities have been reported in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). However, most studies are restricted to the analysis of CD34+ cells and/or other major subsets of CD34, cells, frequently not exploring the diagnostic and prognostic impact of immunophenotyping. Methods: We propose for the first time an immunophenotypic score (IS) based on the altered distribution and immunophenotypic features of maturing/mature compartments of bone marrow (BM) hematopoietic cells in 56 patients with MDS that could contribute to a refined diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of the disease. Results: Although MDS-associated phenotypes were detected in reactive BM, the overall immunophenotypic profile of BM cells allowed an efficient discrimination between MDS and both normal and reactive BM, once the number and degree of severity of the abnormalities detected per patient were simultaneously considered in the proposed IS. Interestingly, increasingly higher IS were found among patients with MDS showing adverse prognostic factors and in low- versus high-grade cases. The most informative prognostic factors included the number of CD34+ cells, presence of aberrant CD34,/CD117+ precursors, decreased mature neutrophils and CD34, erythroid precursors, and increased numbers of CD36,/lo erythroid precursors; in addition, the IS was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival. Conclusions: Assessment of immunophenotypic abnormalities of maturing/mature BM cells allows an efficient discrimination between MDS and both normal and reactive BM, once the number and degree of severity of the abnormalities detected are simultaneously scored. Interestingly, progressively higher IS were found among patients with MDS with adverse prognostic features and shorter overall survival. © 2010 Clinical Cytometry Society [source] Four- and five-color flow cytometry analysis of leukocyte differentiation pathways in normal bone marrow: A reference document based on a systematic approach by the GTLLF and GEIL,,CYTOMETRY, Issue 1 2010Christine Arnoulet Abstract Background: The development of multiparameter flow cytometry (FCM) and increasingly sophisticated analysis software has considerably improved the exploration of hematological disorders. These tools have been widely applied in leukaemias, lymphomas, and myelodysplasias, yet with very heterogeneous approaches. Consequently, there is no extensive reference document reporting on the characteristics of normal human bone marrow (BM) in multiparameter FCM. Here, we report a reference analysis procedure using relevant antibody combinations in normal human BM. Methods: A first panel of 23 antibodies, constructed after literature review, was tested in four-color combinations (including CD45 in each) on 30 samples of BM. After evaluation of the data, a second set of 22 antibodies was further applied to another 35 BM samples. All list-modes from the 65 bone marrow samples were reviewed collectively. A systematised protocol for data analysis was established including biparametric representations and color codes for the three major lineages and undifferentiated cells. Results: This strategy has allowed to obtain a reference atlas of relevant patterns of differentiation antigens expression in normal human BM that is available within the European LeukemiaNet. This manuscript describes how this atlas was constructed. Conclusions: Both the strategy and atlas could prove very useful as a reference of normality, for the determination of leukemia-associated immunophenotypic patterns, analysis of myelodysplasia and, ultimately, investigation of minimal residual disease in the BM. © 2009 Clinical Cytometry Society [source] Prednisone induces immunophenotypic modulation of CD10 and CD34 in nonapoptotic B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells,CYTOMETRY, Issue 3 2008Giuseppe Gaipa Abstract Background: Immunophenotypic modulation is induced by steroids in pediatric B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) patients during remission induction therapy. Methods: We cultured BCP-ALL blasts from diagnostic bone marrow (BM) samples (n = 20) in the presence of prednisone on stroma layer obtained from BM-derived mesenchymal cells to maintain viability. Antigen expression was assessed by multiparametric flow cytometry. Results: Leukemia samples that sustained the treatment in vitro with prednisone, showed significative reduction of CD10 and CD34 expression compared with control, and it was comparable with that observed in residual leukemic cells of the same patients in BM at day 15 of treatment. Modulated cells were viable as determined by Annexin V staining and preserved light scattering properties. Of note, the extent of antigen modulation in vitro correlated with response to prednisone in vivo. Conclusions: The prednisone-induced immunophenotypic modulation can be reproduced in vitro and this phenomenon may reflect sensitivity to chemotherapy. © 2008 Clinical Cytometry Society [source] Multiparametric analysis of normal and postchemotherapy bone marrow: Implication for the detection of leukemia-associated immunophenotypes,CYTOMETRY, Issue 1 2008D. Olaru Abstract Background: The knowledge of normal marrow is mandatory to assess the malignant counterpart of normal cells and define leukemia-associated immunophenotypes (LAIPs). In this study, the expression of a variety of antigens expressed in normal and postchemotherapy bone marrow (BM) was analyzed to provide a frame of reference for the identification of myeloid LAIPs. Methods: Multiparameter four- and six-color flow cytometry was used to define antigen combinations totally absent or present at very minimal levels in marrow cells of normal individuals (n = 20) and patients receiving chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (n = 20). Immature (blast) cells were gated according to CD45/SSC properties. Fifty-three acute myeloid leukemia (AML) samples were studied in six-color combinations. Results: In six-color flow cytometry, 47 phenotypes were totally absent from blast gate in all normal samples. Forty-one other phenotypes were identified in less than 0.05% of blast cells. There was no difference between normal and postchemotherapy BMs. The four-color panel allowed to identify only 30 phenotypes present at a frequency <0.05%. Using the six-color panel, 58% of the absent or infrequent phenotypes in normal BM were found in at least one of 53 AML samples. All AML cases exhibited at least one LAIP. Conclusion: Our results show that the ability to distinguish leukemic from healthy cells is considerably increased by a six-color approach. Furthermore, these absent or infrequent phenotypes in normal BM are identified in AML and can be utilized for minimal residual disease study. © 2007 Clinical Cytometry Society [source] Optimization of a flow cytometry-based protocol for detection and phenotypic characterization of multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells from human bone marrowCYTOMETRY, Issue 6 2006Elena A. Jones Abstract Background: To study the biology of rare bone marrow (BM) multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), recognized protocols are needed. Colony-forming unit-fibroblast (CFU-F) assays have historically been used for the enumeration of MSCs. However, the need to isolate and further analyze MSCs requires new strategies based on cell surface markers. The purpose of this work was to verify the phenotype of BM MSCs in vivo and to develop flow cytometry-based methods for their evaluation. Methods: Pre-enrichment with D7-FIB-conjugated microbeads, cell sorting for CD45lowD7-FIB+LNGFR+ cells, and CFU-F assay were used to confirm the phenotype of BM MSCs in vivo. Further phenotypic characterization of MSCs was performed using three-color flow cytometry following pre-enrichment or by direct four-color flow cytometry. The sensitivity of direct flow cytometry/rare event analysis for the accurate enumeration of MSCs was validated using 85 samples from patients with neoplastic BM diseases. Results: In normal BM, a significant correlation was found between the frequencies of CFU-Fs and CD45lowD7-FIB+LNGFR+ cells (n = 19, R = 0.719, P = 0.001). Following cell sorting, ,15% of these cells were clonogenic. The same cells were enriched using LNGFR-based positive selection, CD45/Glycophorin A-based depletion, or plastic adherence. CD45lowD7-FIB+LNGFR+ cells expressed classic makers of cultured MSCs CD73/SH3 and CD105/SH2 and markers of stromal reticular cells CD106/VCAM and alkaline phosphatase. Novel markers were identified including leukemia inhibitory factor receptor and gp130. CD45lowD7-FIB+LNGFR+ cells were increased fourfold in the floating fat fraction of normal BM aspirates. Their frequency was decreased in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (threefold, n = 13, P = 0.049) and chronic myelogenous leukemia (ninefold, n = 11, P = 0.001) compared with that in age-matched controls (n = 26 and n = 31, respectively). Conclusions: This study demonstrates the usefulness of flow cytometry-based methods for the detection, enumeration and further phenotypic analysis of BM MSCs. These findings have broad applications for the future evaluation of BM MSCs in health and disease. © 2006 International Society for Analytical Cytology [source] A European interlaboratory testing of three well-known procedures for immunocytochemical detection of epithelial cells in bone marrow.CYTOMETRY, Issue 6 2006Results from analysis of normal bone marrow Abstract Background: This investigation intended to study the unspecific background to be expected in normal bone marrow (BM), comparing three well recognized protocols for immunocytochemical detection of disseminated carcinoma cells. The interlaboratory variation in screening and evaluation of stained cells was analyzed and different screening methods were compared. Methods: BM mononuclear cells (BM MNC) from 48 normal BMs were immunostained in parallel by three participating laboratories. The protocols, based on three different anti-cytokeratin antibodies, have all been in common use for detection of disseminated carcinoma cells: the A45-B/B3 protocol (Hamburg), the CK2 protocol (Augsburg) and the AE1AE3 protocol (Oslo). For all protocols, the immunostained cells were visualized by the same alkaline-phosphatase (AP) detection system (APAAP) followed by detection of the cells by manual screening and by two different automated screening systems (ACIS from Chromavision and MDS1 from Applied Imaging). Detected AP-visualized cells were morphologically classified into unambiguous hematopoietic (Uhc) and questionable cells (Qc, potentially interpreted as tumor cells). Results: Seven of 48 BMs (15%) harbored ,1 AP-visualized cell(s) among 1 × 106 BM MNC, both for the A45-B/B3- and for the AE1AE3 protocol, while for CK2 a higher proportion of BMs (21 BMs; 44%) harbored AP-visualized cells (P < 0.01, McNemar's test). The number of Qc was, for all protocols, 1 log lower than the total number of AP-visualized cells. On average, the frequency of Qc was 0.04, 0.08, and 0.02 per 106 BM MNC with A45-B/B3, CK2 and AE1AE3, respectively, and the number of Qc-positive BMs 1, 4, and 1. The MDS1 screening sensitivity was similar to manual screening, while ACIS detected fewer cells (P < 0.001, McNemar's test). Conclusions: All protocols resulted in AP-visualization of occasional hematopoietic cells. However, morphological classification brings the specificity to a satisfactory high level. Approximately 10% of AP-visualized cells were categorized "questionable". The CK2 protocol turned out less specific than the A45-B/B3 and AE1AE3 protocols. © 2006 International Society for Analytical Cytology. [source] Unsupervised immunophenotypic profiling of chronic lymphocytic leukemiaCYTOMETRY, Issue 3 2006Luzette K. Habib Abstract Background Proteomics and functional genomics have revolutionized approaches to disease classification. Like proteomics, flow cytometry (FCM) assesses concurrent expression of many proteins, with the advantage of using intact cells that may be differentially selected during analysis. However, FCM has generally been used for incremental marker validation or construction of predictive models based on known patterns, rather than as a tool for unsupervised class discovery. We undertook a retrospective analysis of clinical FCM data to assess the feasibility of a cell-based proteomic approach to FCM by unsupervised cluster analysis. Methods Multicolor FCM data on peripheral blood (PB) and bone marrow (BM) lymphocytes from 140 consecutive patients with B-cell chronic lymphoproliferative disorders (LPDs), including 81 chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLLs), were studied. Expression was normalized for CD19 totals, and recorded for 10 additional B-cell markers. Data were subjected to hierarchical cluster analysis using complete linkage by Pearson's correlation. Analysis of CLL in PB samples (n = 63) discovered three major clusters. One cluster (14 patients) was skewed toward "atypical" CLL and was characterized by high CD20, CD22, FMC7, and light chain, and low CD23. The remaining two clusters consisted almost entirely (48/49) of cases recorded as typical BCLL. The smaller "typical" BCLL cluster differed from the larger cluster by high CD38 (P = 0.001), low CD20 (P = 0.001), and low CD23 (P = 0.016). These two typical BCLL clusters showed a trend toward a difference in survival (P = 0.1090). Statistically significant cluster stability was demonstrated by expanding the dataset to include BM samples, and by using a method of random sampling with replacement. Conclusions This study supports the concept that unsupervised immunophenotypic profiling of FCM data can yield reproducible subtypes of lymphoma/chronic leukemia. Expanded studies are warranted in the use of FCM as an unsupervised class discovery tool, akin to other proteomic methods, rather than as a validation tool. © 2006 International Society for Analytical Cytology [source] Increased immature hematopoietic progenitor cells CD34+/CD38dim in myelodysplasiaCYTOMETRY, Issue 2 2006Mariela B. Monreal Abstract Background Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are clonal disorders affecting hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC). Despite the relevance of clonal CD34+ cells in developing MDS, only few studies analyze the phenotype of this cell population. The aim of this study was to evaluate phenotypic changes on HPC in MDS that could reflect abnormalities in the differentiation process of stem cells. Methods We analyzed the expression of CD38 and HLA-DR on CD34+ cells by flow cytometry in 36 patients with MDS, as well as in healthy donors (n = 12) and patients with other hematological disorders: non-Hodgkin lymphomas and multiple myeloma, both in complete remission (CR) (n = 32); acute lymphoblastic leukemia in CR (n = 17); de novo acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) at diagnosis (n = 22) and in CR (n = 37); and AML secondary to MDS at diagnosis (n = 19). Cases with available karyotype were grouped according to the International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS). Results Compared to normal BM, the fraction of immature HPC, characterized as CD34+bright, intermediate FSC/SSC, and CD38dim, was significantly increased in high risk MDS and secondary AML, but not in low risk MDS, (P , 0.001, P = 0.03, and P = 0.7). De novo AML showed decreased immature HPC. High numbers of immature HPC correlated with higher IPSS risk groups (P = 0.05) and showed significant impact on disease progression (P = 0.03). Conclusion Our study confirms that evaluation of CD38 expression pattern on HPC is an easy and reproducible test that allows evaluating the immature subset of progenitor cells. Increased immature HPC in high risk MDS and secondary AML may reflect blocked differentiation of CD34+ cells in these diseases. © 2006 International Society for Analytical Cytology [source] Cancer risk from diagnostic radiology in a deliberate self-harm patientACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 5 2010L. J. Norelli Norelli LJ, Coates AD, Kovasznay BM. Cancer risk from diagnostic radiology in a deliberate self-harm patient. Objective:, Patients who engage in recurrent deliberate self-harm (DSH) behaviours have increased morbidity and mortality and use emergency services more than others. Unrecognized iatrogenic injury may play a role. Specifically, we call attention to the potential danger of cumulative radiation exposure. Method:, Case presentation and discussion. Results:, A 29-year-old woman with multiple episodes of deliberate foreign body ingestion received over 400 diagnostic radiology examinations during a 12 year period. The patient's calculated total radiation dose reached an average of 20.5 mSv per year, a dose comparable to atomic bomb survivors and nuclear industry workers, populations in which there is a significant excess cancer risk. Conclusion:, Patients with recurrent self-injurious behaviours, frequent users of healthcare services who often undergo repeated medical assessment and treatment, are likely at higher risk for iatrogenic adverse events. Multiple diagnostic radiology examinations have recently come under scrutiny for causing increased lifetime risk of cancer. Healthcare providers, in particular psychiatrists and emergency department physicians, should consider the cumulative risks of radiological procedures when assessing and treating patients with DSH. [source] HIF-1, protein expression is associated with the environmental inflammatory reaction in Barrett's metaplasiaDISEASES OF THE ESOPHAGUS, Issue 8 2009F. C. Ling SUMMARY The oxygen-regulated transcription factor subunit hypoxia inducible factor-1, (HIF-1,) is involved in angiogenesis, energy metabolism, cell survival, and inflammation. We examined the protein expression of HIF-1, within the progression of Barrett's sequence as well as the type and degree of the environmental inflammatory reaction. Squamous epithelium (SE), metaplastic, low- and high-grade dysplastic lesions, and tumor tissue of 57 resection specimens from patients with Barrett's adenocarcinoma were immunohistochemically analyzed. Active and chronic inflammatory reactions were classified according to the Updated Sydney System. HIF-1, protein expression increased significantly from SE to Barrett's metaplasia (BM) (P < 0.0001). From metaplasia through low- and high-grade dysplasia to cancer, no further increase could be detected. Active and chronic inflammation were also significantly different between SE and BM (P < 0.0001) but not during further progression in the sequence. HIF-1, protein expression did not correlate with histopathologic parameters or survival. HIF-1, protein expression pattern resembles the active and chronic environmental inflammatory reaction. All were significantly increased in metaplasia compared to SE without further change in tumor development. HIF-1, protein expression appears to be associated with inflammatory processes in the development of BM. [source] Cross-linguistic transfer of phonological skills: a Malaysian perspectiveDYSLEXIA, Issue 1 2002Caroline Gomez Abstract This study examined the phonological and reading performance in English of Malaysian children whose home language was Bahasa Malaysia (BM). A sample of 69 Malaysian Standard Two pupils (aged 7,8 years) was selected for the study. Since commencing school at the age of 6 years, the children had been learning to read in BM and had subsequently also been learning to read in English for some 12 months. The study was part of a larger scale research programme that fully recognized the limitations of tests that had not been developed and standardized in Malaysia. Nevertheless, as a first step to developing such tests, a comparison with existing norms for the Phonological Assessment Battery (PhAB) and the Wechsler Objective Reading Dimension (WORD) was undertaken in relation to information about the children's L1 and L2 language competencies. Results showed that the children's performance on PhAB was at least comparable to the UK norms while, not surprisingly, they fared less well on WORD. The results are discussed in terms of L1 and L2 transfer, whereby the transparency of written BM and the structured way in which reading is taught in BM facilitates performance on phonological tasks in English. This has implications for identifying children with phonologically based reading difficulties. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Equine laminitis: Ultrastructural lesions detected in ponies following hyperinsulinaemiaEQUINE VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 7 2009A. R. NOURIAN Summary Reasons for performing study: Anatomical changes in the hoof lamellar tissue induced by prolonged hyperinsulinaemia have not been described previously. Analysis of the induced lesions may promote understanding of hyperinsulinaemic laminitis pathogenesis and produce clinical benefit. Objectives: To use light and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to document hoof lamellar lesions in ponies clinically lame after prolonged hyperinsulinaemia. Methods: Nine clinically normal, mature ponies were allocated randomly to either a treatment group (n = 5) or control group (n = 4). The treatment group received insulin via a modified, prolonged euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamp technique (EHCT) and were subjected to euthanasia when clinical signs of Obel grade II laminitis occurred. The control group was sham treated with an equivalent volume of 0.9% saline and killed at 72 h. Lamellar tissues of the right front feet were harvested and processed for TEM. Results: Lamellae from insulin treated ponies were attenuated and elongated with many epidermal basal cells (EBC) in mitosis. Unlike carbohydrate induced laminitis in horses there was no global separation at the lamellar dermal/epidermal interface among ponies. Sporadic EBC basement membrane (BM) separation was associated with the proximity of infiltrating leucocytes. In 2 ponies, the lamellar BM was thickened. The number of hemidesmosomes/,m of BM was decreased in all insulin treated ponies. Conclusions: Prolonged hyperinsulinaemia causes unique lamellar lesions normally characteristic of acute and chronic laminitis. Lamellar proliferation may be an insulin effect through its mitogenic pathway. Aberrant lamellar mitosis may lengthen and weaken the lamellar, distal phalanx attachment apparatus and contribute to the clinical signs that developed. Potential relevance: The study shows that insulin alone, in higher than normal circulating concentrations, induces profound, changes in lamellar anatomy. Medical control of insulin resistance and hyperinsulinaemia may ameliorate lesions and produce clinical benefit. [source] Equine laminitis: glucose deprivation and MMP activation induce dermo-epidermal separation in vitroEQUINE VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 3 2004K. R. French Summary Reasons for performing study: Acute laminitis is characterised by hoof lamellar dermal-epidermal separation at the basement membrane (BM) zone. Hoof lamellar explants cultured in vitro can also be made to separate at the basement membrane zone and investigating how this occurs may give insight into the poorly understood pathophysiology of laminitis. Objectives: To investigate why glucose deprivation and metalloproteinase (MMP) activation in cultured lamellar explants leads to dermo-epidermal separation. Methods: Explants, cultured without glucose or with the MMP activator p -amino-phenol-mercuric acetate (APMA), were subjected to tension and processed for transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results: Without glucose, or with APMA, explants under tension separated at the dermo-epidermal junction. This in vitro separation occurred via 2 different ultrastructural processes. Lack of glucose reduced hemidesmosomes (HDs) numbers until they disappeared and the basal cell cytoskeleton collapsed. Anchoring filaments (AFs), connecting the basal cell plasmalemma to the BM, were unaffected although they failed under tension. APMA activation of constituent lamellar MMPs did not affect HDs but caused AFs to disappear, also leading to dermo-epidermal separation under tension. Conclusions: Natural laminitis may occur in situations where glucose uptake by lamellar basal cells is compromised (e.g. equine Cushing's disease, obesity, hyperlipaemia, ischaemia and septicaemia) or when lamellar MMPs are activated (alimentary carbohydrate overload). Potential relevance: Therapies designed to facilitate peripheral glucose uptake and inhibit lamellar MMP activation may prevent or ameliorate laminitis. [source] A molecular analysis of biclonal follicular lymphoma: further evidence for bone marrow origin and clonal selectionEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 5 2009Yuichi Nakamura Abstract We report a follicular lymphoma (FL) case presenting the coexistence of two tumor cell subpopulations in lymph node (LN) and bone marrow (BM), which exhibited an inverse pattern of immunoglobulin light (IgL) chain gene rearrangement and expression: Ig,,,+ in LN and Ig,+,, in BM. These tumor clones shared an identical BCL2-IgH recombination, accompanying t(14;18)(q32;q21) translocation, and an identical variable, diversity and joining segments joining with clone-specific VH somatic hypermutations on the untranslocated IgH allele. Our study provides further evidence that FL clones, originating from common progenitor cells, can be developed independently at different sites and with different IgL expression after immune selection. [source] Transforming growth factor-beta1 affects interleukin-10 production in the bone marrow of patients with chronic idiopathic neutropeniaEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2007Katerina Pyrovolaki Abstract Background:, Chronic idiopathic neutropenia (CIN) is a bone marrow (BM) failure syndrome characterized by accelerated apoptosis of myeloid progenitor cells because of a local imbalance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. In this study, we investigated the interplay among transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-,1), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and soluble flt-3 ligand (sFL) within the BM of CIN patients and probed the role of these cytokines in the pathophysiology of CIN. Design:, We used long-term BM cultures (LTBMC) to evaluate TGF-,1, IL-10, and sFL levels in CIN patients (n = 70) and healthy subjects (n = 35). Cytokine levels in LTBMC supernatants were correlated with the number of circulating neutrophils and the proportion of BM CD34+/CD33+ myeloid progenitor cells. Results:, CIN patients had increased TGF-,1 and sFL levels in LTBMCs compared with controls and individual cytokine values were found to be correlated inversely with the number of neutrophils and the proportion of CD34+/CD33+ cells. Patients displayed low supernatant IL-10 levels compared with controls and cytokine values were found to be correlated positively with the number of neutrophils and the proportion of CD34+/CD33+ cells. The levels of TGF-,1 were found to be inversely correlated with IL-10 and positively with sFL values in LTBMC, supernatants suggesting a possible interplay among these cytokines in CIN BM. Neutralization of TGF-,1 in LTBMCs increased IL-10 levels significantly in patients but not in controls, while neutralization had no effect on sFL levels. Conclusion:, Excessive production of TGF-,1 within the BM microenvironment of CIN patients results in downregulation of IL-10 and reduction of myeloid progenitor cells. Overexpression of sFL probably represents a compensatory mechanism to the low myeloid progenitor cells. [source] Long-term effects of idiotype vaccination on the specific T-cell response in peripheral blood and bone marrow of multiple myeloma patientsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 5 2007Amir Osman Abdalla Abstract Objectives:, To elucidate long-term effects of idiotype (Id) vaccination on Id-specific T cells of multiple myeloma (MM) patients and compare Id-specific T-cell responses of peripheral blood with those of bone marrow (BM). Materials and methods:, Id-specific T-cell responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were compared with those of BM mononuclear cells (BMMC) in 10 MM patients vaccinated with the Id protein at a median time of 41 months since the last immunization. The PBMC responses at late follow-up were also compared with those during active immunization. The responses were assessed by a proliferation assay, enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) (,-interferon), cytometric bead array (CBA) for secreted cytokines and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR) for cytokine gene expression. Results:, At the late testing time, an Id-specific response was detected in PBMC of five patients (ELISPOT, CBA, QRT-PCR) and in BMMC of four patients (CBA, QRT-PCR). A response in both compartments was noted only in three patients. The cytokines gene profile was consistent with a predominance of Th2 cells [interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-10]. Comparison of the Id-specific responses of PBMC during active immunization with those at the late follow-up showed that the frequency and magnitude of the responses had decreased significantly by time (proliferation/ELISPOT) (P < 0.02) and shifted at the gene level from a Th1 to a Th2 profile (P < 0.05). Conclusion:, Id-specific T cells may decline overtime and shift toward a Th2 response and may be found at a similar frequency of patients in blood and BM. [source] Human hematopoietic stem/progenitor-enriched CD34+ cells are mobilized into peripheral blood during stress related to ischemic stroke or acute myocardial infarctionEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2005E. Paczkowska Abstract:, The hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells harvested directly from the bone marrow (BM) or G-CSF mobilized peripheral blood were demonstrated to play an important role in regeneration of damaged organs (1, 2). Here, we asked if the stroke- or acute heart infarct-related stress triggers mobilization of stem/progenitor-enriched CD34+cells from the BM into the peripheral blood, which subsequently could contribute to regeneration of damaged tissues. To address this question the peripheral blood samples were harvested from patients with ischemic stroke during the first 24 h of manifestation of symptoms and on the second and sixth day afterwards or during the first 24 h of acute cardiac pain as well as on the second and sixth day of infarct. We measured in these patients (i) percentage of circulating hematopoietic stem/progenitor-enriched CD34+ cells in peripheral blood by employing fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS) and (ii) number of hematopoietic progenitor cells for the granulocyte-monocytic colony-forming unit (CFU-GM) and erythoid burst-forming unit (BFU-E) lineages circulating in peripheral blood. We concluded that stress related to ischemic stroke or acute myocardial infarction triggers the mobilization of hematopoietic stem/progenitor-enriched CD34+ cells from the BM into peripheral blood. These circulating stem/progenitor-enriched CD34+ cells may contribute to the regeneration of ischemic tissues, however, this possibility requires further studies. [source] Extensive flow cytometric characterization of plasmacytoid dendritic cell leukemia cellsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 4 2005Laszlo Gopcsa Abstract:,Objectives:,Accumulating evidence suggests that non-T, non-B cell CD4+CD56+ neoplasms with lymphoblastic morphology include clinically and immunophenotypically diverse entities. Although their cells of origin or classification are still controversial several entities clearly represent a distinct type of neoplasms that are clinically aggressive. Methods:,In this work we present the immunophenotypic and genotypic features of bone marrow (BM), peripheral blood (PB), lymph node and skin lymphocytes from a patient diagnosed as plasmacytoid dendritic cell leukemia involving the skin, BM, PB, lymph nodes, liver and spleen. For determination of immunophenotypic characteristics of malignant plasmacytoid dendritic cells 73 monoclonal antibodies detecting lineage markers, chemokine receptors, cytokine receptors, activation, and co-stimulatory molecules were used. Results and conclusion:,The malignant cells proved to express CD4+, CD56+ lineage negative leukemia phenotype characteristically positive for CD36, CD38, CD40, CD45, CD45RA, CD68, CD123, CD184, HLA-DR, BDCA2, and granzyme-B corresponding to the preplasmacytoid dendritic cell developmental stage. The presence of CD11a/CD18, CD84, CD91, CD95, ,v,5, CDw197, and the absence of CD52 and CD133 in this case can be regarded as additional features of malignant cells. Completing the immunophenotypes with multidrug resistance function can provide additional information for characterizing pDC leukemia. [source] Excessive production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha by bone marrow T lymphocytes is essential in causing bone marrow failure in patients with aplastic anemiaEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 1 2004Takeshi Hara Abstract:, Aplastic anemia (AA) is regarded as an immunological disorder because of the clinical effect of immunosuppressive therapy. Recent studies have reported that cytokines play an important role in the development of AA. In the present study, we measured levels of T-cell derived intracellular cytokine production in peripheral blood and bone marrow (BM) of patients with AA. We demonstrated that BM lymphocytes, particularly CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, in patients with AA produced significantly higher amounts of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF- ,), compared with lymphocytes in normal controls. We have previously reported that expression of TNF receptor (R)1 and TNFR2 in the CD34+ CD38, and CD34+ CD38+ fractions of patients with AA is significantly higher than those in normal control. These results indicate that BM stem cells in patients with AA may possess high sensitivity to TNF- ,. This in turn suggests that TNF- , affects hematopoiesis at an earlier stage in AA patients than in normal controls. We strongly support the hypothesis that a simultaneous increase in TNF- , production by BM lymphocytes and sensitivity of stem cells to TNF- , leads to BM failure in AA. [source] Frequency and prognostic relevance of cyclin D1 dysregulation in multiple myelomaEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 5-6 2001Thomas Rasmussen Abstract:Objective: Cyclin D1 dysregulation has been found with varying frequencies in multiple myeloma (MM) and has been suggested to be associated with a poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of cyclin D1 dysregulation in patients being treated for MM and to test whether cyclin D1 dysregulation is a prognostic factor for MM patients. Methods: To achieve the above aims we designed a highly sensitive and reproducible real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay for quantitation of cyclin D1 mRNA. Using this assay, 110 diagnostic bone marrow (BM) samples from patients with MM were screened for cyclin D1 dysfuntion. Results: The real-time assay was able to detect the presence of 0.01% cyclin D1 positive cells allowing a safe detection in MM BM samples. In 42% (46/110) of MM BM samples a ,,3-fold increase in cyclin D1 mRNA was observed compared to the cyclin D1 level in normal BM. In the remaining group of MM patients the cyclin D1 mRNA levels were comparable to normal donors. Follow-up of 76 MM patients showed no significant (P = 0.35) difference in survival between cyclin D1 positive and negative MM patients. In addition, cyclin D1 dysregulation did not correlate with known prognostic factors. Conclusion: The developed real-time RT-PCR assay for detection of cyclin D1 mRNA levels offers a fast and safe screening for cyclin D1 dysfunction. When a large cohort of MM patients was screened, the cyclin D1 gene was found to be frequently dysregulated, but there was no significant correlation to survival or known prognostic parameters. [source] Haematopoietic progenitor cells from the common marmoset as targets of gene transduction by retroviral and adenoviral vectorsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 4 2001Hitoshi Hibino Abstract: To establish a new non-human primate model for human cytokine and gene therapy, we characterized lymphocytes and haematopoietic progenitor cells of the small New World monkey, the common marmoset. We first assessed the reactions of marmoset bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood (PB) cells to mouse anti-human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for the purpose of isolating marmoset lymphocytes and haematopoietic progenitor cells. Both cell fractions stained with CD4 and CD8 mAbs were identified as lymphocytes by cell proliferation assay and morphological examination. Myeloid-specific mAbs such as CD14 and CD33 did not react with marmoset BM and PB cells. No available CD34 and c-kit mAbs could be used to purify the marmoset haematopoietic progenitor cells. Furthermore, we studied the in vitro transduction of the bacterial ,-galactosidase (LacZ) gene into CFU-GM derived from marmoset BM using retroviral and adenoviral vectors. The transduction efficiency was increased by using a mixed culture system consisting of marmoset BM stromal cells and retroviral producer cells. It was also possible to transduce LacZ gene into marmoset haematopoietic progenitor cells with adenoviral vectors as well as retroviral vectors. The percentage of adenovirally transduced LacZ-positive clusters was 15% at day 4 (multiplicity of infection=200), but only 1,2% at day 14. The differential use of viral vector systems is to be recommended in targeting different diseases. Our results suggested that marmoset BM progenitor cells were available to examine the transduction efficiency of various viral vectors in vitro. [source] Constitutive activation of Bruton's tyrosine kinase induces the formation of autoreactive IgM plasma cellsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 9 2010Rogier Kersseboom Abstract B-cell receptor (BCR)-mediated signals provide the basis for B-cell differentiation in the BM and subsequently into follicular, marginal zone, or B-1 B-cell subsets. We have previously shown that B-cell-specific expression of the constitutive active E41K mutant of the BCR-associated molecule Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) leads to an almost complete deletion of immature B cells in the BM. Here, we report that low-level expression of the E41K or E41K-Y223F Btk mutants was associated with reduced follicular B-cell numbers and significantly increased proportions of B-1 cells in the spleen. Crosses with 3-83,, and VH81X BCR Tg mice showed that constitutive active Btk expression did not change follicular, marginal zone, or B-1 B-cell fate choice, but resulted in selective expansion or survival of B-1 cells. Residual B cells were hyperresponsive and manifested sustained Ca2+ mobilization. They were spontaneously driven into germinal center-independent plasma cell differentiation, as evidenced by increased numbers of IgM+ plasma cells in spleen and BM and significantly elevated serum IgM. Because anti-nucleosome autoantibodies and glomerular IgM deposition were present, we conclude that constitutive Btk activation causes defective B-cell tolerance, emphasizing that Btk signals are essential for appropriate regulation of B-cell activation. [source] MAPK3 deficiency drives autoimmunity via DC armingEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 5 2010Ivo Bendix Abstract DC are professional APC that instruct T cells during the inflammatory course of EAE. We have previously shown that MAPK3 (Erk1) is important for the induction of T-cell anergy. Our goal was to determine the influence of MAPK3 on the capacity of DC to arm T-cell responses in autoimmunity. We report that DC from Mapk3,/, mice have a significantly higher membrane expression of CD86 and MHC-II and , when loaded with the myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein , show a superior capacity to prime naïve T cells towards an inflammatory phenotype than Mapk3+/+ DC. Nonetheless and as previously described, Mapk3,/, mice were only slightly but not significantly more susceptible to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-induced EAE than WT littermate mice. However, Mapk3+/+ mice engrafted with Mapk3,/, BM (KO,WT) developed a severe form of EAE, in direct contrast to WT,KO mice, which were even less sick than control WT,WT mice. An infiltration of DC and accumulation of Th17 cells was also observed in the CNS of KO,WT mice. Therefore, triggering of MAPK3 in the periphery might be a therapeutic option for the treatment of neuroinflammation since absence of this kinase in the immune system leads to severe EAE. [source] Involvement of leptin signaling in the survival and maturation of bone marrow-derived dendritic cellsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 12 2006Kwan Lam, Queenie Abstract Previous studies demonstrated that lymphocyte development is impaired in leptin receptor (Ob - R)-deficient db/db mice. However, it remains unclear whether or not leptin signaling plays a physiological role in dendritic cell (DC) development and function. In this study, we first detected Ob-R expression in murine DC. Using db/db mice at a pre-diabetic stage, we demonstrate that the total number of DC generated from bone marrow (BM) cultures is significantly lower than in WT controls. Similarly, selective blockade of leptin with a soluble mouse Ob-R chimera (Ob-R:Fc) inhibited DC generation in wild-type BM cultures. The reduced DC yield in db/db BM culture was attributed to significantly increased apoptosis, which was associated with dysregulated expression of Bcl-2 family genes. Moreover, db/db DC displayed markedly reduced expression of co-stimulatory molecules and a Th2-type cytokine profile, with a poor capacity to stimulate allogeneic T cell proliferation. Consistent with their impaired DC phenotype and function, db/db DC showed significantly down-regulated activities of the PI3K/Akt pathway as well as STAT-3 and I,B-,. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate the involvement of leptin signaling in DC survival and maturation. See accompanying commentary: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/eji.200636770 [source] Depletion of immature B,cells during Trypanosoma cruzi infection: involvement of myeloid cells and the cyclooxygenase pathwayEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 6 2005Elina Zuniga Abstract The ability of a microorganism to elicit or evade B,cell responses represents a determinant factor for the final outcome of an infection. Although pathogens may subvert humoral responses at different stages of B,cell development, most studies addressing the impact of an infection on the B,cell compartment have focused on mature B,cells within peripheral lymphoid organs. Herein, we report that a protozoan infection, i.e. a Trypanosoma cruzi infection, induces a marked loss of immature B,cells in the BM, which also compromises recently emigrated B,cells in the periphery. The depletion of BM immature B,cells is associated with an increased rate of apoptosis mediated by a parasite-indirect mechanism in a Fas/FasL-independent fashion. Finally, we demonstrated that myeloid cells play an important role in B,cell depletion, since CD11b+ BM cells from infected mice secrete a product of the cyclooxygenase pathway that eliminates immature B,cells. These results highlight a previously unrecognized maneuver used by a protozoan parasite to disable B,cell generation, limiting host defense and favoring its chronic establishment. [source] ADAPTIVE CONSTRAINTS AND THE PHYLOGENETIC COMPARATIVE METHOD: A COMPUTER SIMULATION TESTEVOLUTION, Issue 1 2002Emilia P. Martins Abstract Recently, the utility of modern phylogenetic comparative methods (PCMs) has been questioned because of the seemingly restrictive assumptions required by these methods. Although most comparative analyses involve traits thought to be undergoing natural or sexual selection, most PCMs require an assumption that the traits be evolving by less directed random processes, such as Brownian motion (BM). In this study, we use computer simulation to generate data under more realistic evolutionary scenarios and consider the statistical abilities of a variety of PCMs to estimate correlation coefficients from these data. We found that correlations estimated without taking phylogeny into account were often quite poor and never substantially better than those produced by the other tested methods. In contrast, most PCMs performed quite well even when their assumptions were violated. Felsenstein's independent contrasts (FIC) method gave the best performance in many cases, even when weak constraints had been acting throughout phenotypic evolution. When strong constraints acted in opposition to variance-generating (i.e., BM) forces, however, FIC correlation coefficients were biased in the direction of those BM forces. In most cases, all other PCMs tested (phylogenetic generalized least squares, phylogenetic mixed model, spatial autoregression, and phylogenetic eigenvector regression) yielded good statistical performance, regardless of the details of the evolutionary model used to generate the data. Actual parameter estimates given by different PCMs for each dataset, however, were occasionally very different from one another, suggesting that the choice among them should depend on the types of traits and evolutionary processes being considered. [source] Selective down-regulation of the ,6-integrin subunit in melanocytes by UVB lightEXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2005Sven Krengel Abstract:,In vivo, melanocytes bind to laminin (LM) molecules of the basement membrane (BM) via the integrins ,3,1 and ,6,1, and they adhere to neighbouring keratinocytes via E-cadherin. Only few studies have addressed the impact of ultraviolet (UV) light on the interaction of melanocytes with their microenvironment. In this report, we examined the influence of UVB irradiation on the expression of the most important melanocyte-adhesion molecules (E-, N-cadherin, ,2-, ,3-, ,5-, ,6-, ,V-, ,1-, ,3-integrins and ICAM-1) in vitro by flow cytometry. We were able to demonstrate that the ,6-integrin subunit is selectively and reversibly down-regulated by UVB in a dwzm 150ose-dependent manner. In comparison, keratinocytes lacked UVB-inducible alterations in the expression of ,6-integrin. In the presence of LM-1, the UVB-induced down-regulation of ,6-integrin in melanocytes was significantly reduced. Moreover, LM-1 increased the resistance of melanocytes to UVB-induced cell death, as measured by annexinV-binding analysis. This effect was reversed by preincubation with an ,6-integrin-blocking antibody. By immunofluorescence, we could demonstrate that UVB leads to a dose-dependent internalization of ,6-integrin, providing an obvious explanation for the down-regulation on the outer cell surface observed by flow cytometry. We suggest that adhesion to LM-1 through ,6-integrin represents a protective mechanism for melanocytes to withstand UVB damage. Through ,6-integrin internalization, sunburns might alter the interaction between melanocytes and the BM, resulting in apoptosis induced by loss of anchorage (anoikis). Repeated sunburns may then lead to the selection of a population of melanocytes which are capable of anchorage-independent survival, culminating in solar nevogenesis and melanoma development. [source] Modelling the Influence of Age, Body Size and Sex on Maximum Oxygen Uptake in Older HumansEXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 2 2000Patrick J. Johnson The purpose of this study was to describe the influence of body size and sex on the decline in maximum oxygen uptake (V,O2,max) in older men and women. A stratified random sample of 152 men and 146 women, aged 55-86 years, was drawn from the study population. Influence of age on V,O2,max, independent of differences in body mass (BM) or fat-free mass (FFM), was investigated using the following allometric model: V,O2,max= BMb (or FFMb) exp(a + (c × age) + (d × sex)) [epsilon]. The model was linearised and parameters identified using standard multiple regression. The BM model explained 68.8% of the variance in V,O2,max. The parameters (± s.e.e., standard error of the estimate) for lnBM (0.563 ± 0.070), age (-0.0154 ± 0.0012), sex (0.242 ± 0.024) and the intercept (-1.09 ± 0.32) were all significant (P < 0.001). The FFM model explained 69.3% of the variance in V,O2,max, and the parameters (± s.e.e) lnFFM (0.772 ± 0.090), age (-0.0159 ± 0.0012) and the intercept (-1.57 ± 0.36) were significant (P < 0.001), while sex (0.077 +/, 0.038) was significant at P = 0.0497. Regardless of the model used, the age-associated decline was similar, with a relative decline of 15% per decade (0.984 exp(age)) in V,O2,max in older humans being estimated. The study has demonstrated that, for a randomly drawn sample, the age-related loss in V,O2,max is determined, in part, by the loss of fat-free body mass. When this factor is accounted for, the loss of V,O2,max across age is similar in older men and women. [source] Does pregnancy affect swimming performance of female Mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis?FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY, Issue 3 2002I. Plaut Summary 1.,The cost of reproduction due to limiting of the reproductive female's locomotion capability has been suggested many times, but has rarely been directly examined, especially in fishes. Here, the effect of pregnancy on swimming performance in the viviparous Mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis, was studied. 2.,Eight females of G. affinis were isolated, each in a separate aquarium, and critical swimming speed (Ucrit), body mass (BM) and cross-section area were measured every 5 days from the beginning of the pregnancy until 2,4 days after parturition. 3.,Swimming kinematics (tail beat frequency and amplitude) was measured in non-pregnant and pregnant females at different swimming speeds. 4.,BM increased during pregnancy from 0·47 ± 0·13 g to 0·72 ± 0·19 g, and the cross-section area also increased during pregnancy from 0·21 ± 0·06 cm2 to 0·32 ± 0·07 cm2. Ucrit decreased from 25·0 ± 1·3 cm s,1 before pregnancy to 20·1 ± 1·5 cm s,1 just before parturition, and returned to 24·7 ± 1·4 cm s,1 2,4 days after parturition. Interindividual variation was repeatable and reflects real differences among individuals. 5.,Swimming kinematics was not affected by pregnancy. 6.,The results suggest that reductions in Ucrit are probably because of aerobic constraints and not necessarily due to hydrodynamic changes resulting from changing in body form or plasticity. Moreover, the reduction in Ucrit is, potentially, a ,cost of reproduction' owing to decrease in the ability to gain food during pregnancy in G. affinis females. [source] |