Genomic characteristics and prognostic significance of co-mutated ASXL1/SRSF2 acute myeloid leukemia.

The ASXL1 and SRSF2 mutations in AML are frequently found in patients with preexisting myeloid malignancies and are individually associated with poor outcomes. In this multi-institutional retrospective analysis, we assessed the genetic features and clinical outcomes of 43 patients with ASXL1mut SRSF2mut AML and compared outcomes to patients with either ASXL1 (n = 57) or SRSF2 (n = 70) mutations. Twenty-six (60%) had secondary-AML (s-AML). Variant allele fractions suggested that SRSF2 mutations preceded ASXL1 mutational events. Median overall survival (OS) was 7.0 months (95% CI:3.8,15.3) and was significantly longer in patients with de novo vs s-AML (15.3 vs 6.4 months, respectively; P = .04 on adjusted analysis). Compared to ASXL1mut SRSF2wt and ASXL1wt SRSF2mut , co-mutated patients had a 1.4 and 1.6 times increase in the probability of death, respectively (P = .049), with a trend towards inferior OS (median OS = 7.0 vs 11.5 vs 10.9 months, respectively; P = .10). Multivariable analysis suggests this difference in OS is attributable to the high proportion of s-AML patients in the co-mutated cohort (60% vs 32% and 23%, respectively). Although this study is limited by the retrospective data collection and the relatively small sample size, these data suggest that ASXL1mut SRSF2mut AML is a distinct subgroup of AML frequently associated with s-AML and differs from ASXL1mut SRSF2wt /ASXL1wt SRSF2mut with respect to etiology and leukemogenesis.

Effect of adiposity, season, diet and calcium or vitamin D supplementation on the vitamin D status of healthy urban African and Asian-Indian adults.

Vitamin D deficiency has been implicated in the aetiology of infectious diseases and metabolic syndrome. These diseases are prevalent in the African and Asian-Indian populations of South Africa; however, there is limited data on 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations in these populations. The aim of the present study was to assess the vitamin D status and its predictors in healthy adults in Johannesburg. We assessed the vitamin D status of 730 adult African and Asian-Indian subjects residing in Johannesburg. The contributions of sun exposure, season, dietary intake of Ca and vitamin D, total body fat and body fat distribution to 25(OH)D concentrations were assessed. The concentrations of 25(OH)D were measured by HPLC. The contribution of 25(OH)D3 to total 25(OH)D concentrations was assessed. The mean age of the subjects was 42·6 (SD 13·1) years (range: 18-65). Concentrations of 25(OH)D < 30 nmol/l were found in 28·6 % of the Asian-Indian subjects in comparison with 5·1 % of the African subjects (P< 0·0001). Parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentrations were negatively associated with 25(OH)D concentrations, while season and sun exposure were positive predictors explaining 16 % of the variance in 25(OH)D concentrations (P< 0·0001) in the African subjects. In the Asian-Indian subjects, PTH concentrations were negatively associated with 25(OH)D concentrations, while male sex, season and Ca supplementation were positive predictors and explained 17 % of the variance in 25(OH)D concentrations (P< 0·0001). In the multivariate regression analysis, neither total body fat nor body fat distribution was predictive of 25(OH)D concentrations in either group. In conclusion, factors such as sun exposure, dietary supplement use and ethnicity are important determinants of plasma 25(OH)D concentrations.

Reduction in mortality in subjects with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia associated with advances in lipid-lowering therapy.

BACKGROUND: Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia is an inherited disorder caused by mutations in both low-density lipoprotein receptor alleles, which results in extremely elevated plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations and very early morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: To evaluate the impact of advances in lipid-lowering (predominantly statin) therapy on cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality in a large cohort of patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, the records of 149 patients (81 females, 68 males) from 2 specialized lipid clinics in South Africa were evaluated retrospectively. Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia was diagnosed by confirmation of mutations in genes affecting low-density lipoprotein cholesterol or by clinical criteria. A Cox proportional hazard model with time-varying exposure was used to estimate the risk of death and major adverse cardiovascular events among statin-treated patients compared with statin-naive patients. The hazard ratio for benefit from lipid therapy, calculated with the Cox proportional hazards model for the end point of death, was 0.34 (95% confidence interval 0.14-0.86; P=0.02), and for the end point of major adverse cardiovascular events, it was 0.49 (95% confidence interval 0.22-1.07; P=0.07). This occurred despite a mean reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol of only 26.4% (from 15.9±3.9 to 11.7±3.4 mmol/L; P<0.0001) with lipid-lowering therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Lipid-lowering therapy is associated with delayed cardiovascular events and prolonged survival in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.

Inverse log-linear relationship between thyroid-stimulating hormone and free thyroxine measured by direct analog immunoassay and tandem mass spectrometry.

BACKGROUND: Accurate measurement of free thyroxine (FT(4)) is important for diagnosing and managing thyroid disorders. Most laboratories measure FT(4) by direct analogue immunoassay methods. The validity of these methods have recently been questioned. The inverse log-linear relationship between FT(4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) is well described and provides a physiological rationale on which to base an evaluation of FT(4) assays. METHODS: The study included 109 participants for whom FT(4) measurement was requested by their clinician. Samples were selected for inclusion to reflect a wide spectrum of TSH and albumin results. FT(4) and TSH were measured by use of the Siemens Immulite immunoassay (IA). FT(4) was also measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) (MS-FT(4)). RESULTS: The inverse log-linear correlation coefficient between TSH and FT(4) was significantly better (P < 0.0001) for MS-FT(4) (0.84, 95% CI, 0.77-0.88) than for IA-FT(4) (0.45, 95% CI, 0.29-0.59). IA-FT(4) showed a significant correlation with albumin (Spearman correlation coefficient 0.45, 95% CI, 0.29-0.5, P < 0.0001) and thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) (Spearman correlation coefficient 0.23, 95% CI, 0.05-0.41, P = 0.02). In contrast, FT(4) measurement by LC-MS/MS did not show a significant correlation with albumin or TBG. CONCLUSIONS: The inverse log-linear relationship between FT(4) and TSH was significantly better for FT(4) measured by LC-MS/MS than by IA. The MS-FT(4) method therefore provides FT(4) results that agree clinically with those obtained for TSH. Additionally, the significant correlation between IA-FT(4) with albumin and TBG suggests that this FT(4) method depends on binding protein concentrations and consequently does not accurately reflect FT(4).

Non-HDL cholesterol shows improved accuracy for cardiovascular risk score classification compared to direct or calculated LDL cholesterol in a dyslipidemic population.

BACKGROUND: Our objective was to evaluate the accuracy of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk score classification by direct LDL cholesterol (dLDL-C), calculated LDL cholesterol (cLDL-C), and non-HDL cholesterol (non-HDL-C) compared to classification by reference measurement procedures (RMPs) performed at the CDC. METHODS: We examined 175 individuals, including 138 with CVD or conditions that may affect LDL-C measurement. dLDL-C measurements were performed using Denka, Kyowa, Sekisui, Serotec, Sysmex, UMA, and Wako reagents. cLDL-C was calculated by the Friedewald equation, using each manufacturer's direct HDL-C assay measurements, and total cholesterol and triglyceride measurements by Roche and Siemens (Advia) assays, respectively. RESULTS: For participants with triglycerides<2.26 mmol/L (<200 mg/dL), the overall misclassification rate for the CVD risk score ranged from 5% to 17% for cLDL-C methods and 8% to 26% for dLDL-C methods when compared to the RMP. Only Wako dLDL-C had fewer misclassifications than its corresponding cLDL-C method (8% vs 17%; P<0.05). Non-HDL-C assays misclassified fewer patients than dLDL-C for 4 of 8 methods (P<0.05). For participants with triglycerides≥2.26 mmol/L (≥200 mg/dL) and<4.52 mmol/L (<400 mg/dL), dLDL-C methods, in general, performed better than cLDL-C methods, and non-HDL-C methods showed better correspondence to the RMP for CVD risk score than either dLDL-C or cLDL-C methods. CONCLUSIONS: Except for hypertriglyceridemic individuals, 7 of 8 dLDL-C methods failed to show improved CVD risk score classification over the corresponding cLDL-C methods. Non-HDL-C showed overall the best concordance with the RMP for CVD risk score classification of both normal and hypertriglyceridemic individuals.

A comparison of cystatin C- and creatinine-based prediction equations for the estimation of glomerular filtration rate in black South Africans.

BACKGROUND: Serum creatinine (S-Cr)-based prediction equations are commonly used for estimating glomerular filtration rate (GFR). However, S-Cr concentration is also affected by other factors such as tubular secretion, muscle mass, diet, gender and age. Serum cystatin C (S-Cys C)-based prediction equations have been proposed as an improved potential alternative as S-Cys C levels are not influenced by many of the factors that affect creatinine concentration other than GFR. This may be of great benefit to patients with low muscle mass such as those infected with human immunodeficiency virus who are at increased risk for the development of renal impairment. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a S-Cys C-based prediction equation for different stages of renal disease in black South Africans. METHODS: One hundred patients with varying degrees of renal function were enrolled in the study. The plasma clearance of (51)Cr-EDTA, a gold standard method, was used to measure GFR (mGFR). In addition, serum was analysed for S-Cr and S-Cys C on each participant. This dataset was split into a development dataset (n = 50) and a test dataset (n = 50). The development dataset was used to formulate a S-Cys C- and S-Cr-based prediction equation using multiple linear regression analysis. These equations together with the four-variable MDRD and CKD-EPI equation were then tested on the test dataset. RESULTS: In the test dataset, accuracy within 15% of measured GFR was 68% for the S-Cys C equation and 48% for the S-Cr equation. Root mean square error for S-Cr eGFR was 10.7 mL/min/1.73 m(2) for those patients with mGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and 25.5 mL/min/1.73 m(2) for those patients with mGFR > 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2). Root mean square error for S-Cys C eGFR was 10.2 mL/min/1.73 m(2) for those patients with mGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and 11.9 mL/min/1.73 m(2) for those patients with mGFR > 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, S-Cys C-based prediction equations appear to be more precise than those of S-Cr for those patients with mGFR > 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and may therefore be of benefit in the earlier detection of renal impairment.

Semaphorin 6D regulates the late phase of CD4+ T cell primary immune responses.

The semaphorin and plexin family of ligand and receptor proteins provides important axon guidance cues required for development. Recent studies have expanded the role of semaphorins and plexins in the regulation of cardiac, circulatory and immune system function. Within the immune system, semaphorins and plexins regulate cell-cell interactions through a complex network of receptor and ligand pairs. Immune cells at different stages of development often express multiple semaphorins and plexins, leading to multivariate interactions, involving more than one ligand and receptor within each functional group. Because of this complexity, the significance of semaphorin and plexin regulation on individual immune cell types has yet to be fully appreciated. In this work, we examined the regulation of T cells by semaphorin 6D. Both in vitro and in vivo T cell stimulation enhanced semaphorin 6D expression. However, semaphorin 6D was only expressed by a majority of T cells during the late phases of activation. Consequently, the targeted disruption of semaphorin 6D receptor-ligand interactions inhibited T cell proliferation at late but not early phases of activation. This proliferation defect was associated with reduced linker of activated T cells protein phosphorylation, which may reflect semaphorin 6D regulation of c-Abl kinase activity. Semaphorin 6D disruption also inhibited expression of CD127, which is required during the multiphase antigen-presenting cell and T cell interactions leading to selection of long-lived lymphocytes. This work reveals a role for semaphorin 6D as a regulator of the late phase of primary immune responses.

Cystatin C- and creatinine-based equations in the assessment of renal function in HIV-positive patients prior to commencing Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the accuracy and precision of creatinine- and cystatin C-based prediction equations for estimating glomerular filtration rate compared to measured glomerular filtration rate in an antiretroviral-naive human immunodeficiency virus population. METHODS: The study population consisted of 100 treatment-naive HIV patients. Glomerular filtration rate was estimated using the Cockcroft-Gault, Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) and Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equations, as well as cystatin C-based equations (CKD-EPIcystatin C, cystatin Cvan Deventer and CKD-EPIcombined)) compared to (51)Cr-EDTA plasma clearance-measured glomerular filtration rate. We calculated percentage bias, standard deviation of the differences, accuracy within 15 and 30% of measured glomerular filtration rate and sensitivity and specificity for predicting measured glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m(2). RESULTS: Bias for all estimating glomerular filtration rate equations ranged from -9.4% to 38.4%. The CKD-EPIcombined without ethnicity correction factor equation had the least bias, 2.9% (-2.9 to 8.8). Bias was higher for the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease and CKD-EPI equation with the African-American ethnicity factor (38.4 and 33.7%) than without (14.2 and 15.3%). Standard deviation of the differences ranged from 29.2% (CKD-EPIcombined without ethnicity factor) to 54.0% (Modification of Diet in Renal Disease with ethnicity factor). Accuracy within 30% of measured glomerular filtration rate ranged from 78% for CKD-EPIcombined without ethnicity factor to 56.7% for the Cockcroft-Gault equation. Sensitivity for creatinine-based equations was less than 50% and for the CKD-EPIcystatin C equation was 75%. CONCLUSION: Sensitivity of creatinine-based equations for predicting glomerular filtration rate was poor in this group of patients. The CKD-EPIcombined equation performed better than creatinine-based equations.

The expanding role of tandem mass spectrometry in optimizing diagnosis and treatment of thyroid disease.

This review discusses the state-of-the-art measurement of free and total thyroid hormones in clinical laboratories. We highlight some of the limitations of currently used immunoassays and critically discuss physical separation methods for the measurement of free thyroid hormone. Physical separation methods, such as equilibrium dialysis or ultrafiltration, followed by tandem mass spectrometry for the measurement of free thyroid hormones offer many advantages, which we feel, can deepen our understanding of thyroid hormone metabolism and improve patient diagnosis and care. Problems with direct analogue immunoassay methods for FT4/FT3 as well as immunoassay methods for total T3 at low T3 concentrations and during pregnancy are highlighted. Improved diagnosis and patient management can be achieved utilizing tandem mass spectrometry for these measurements.

Gastrointestinal permeability in patients with irritable bowel syndrome assessed using a four probe permeability solution.

BACKGROUND: Abnormal gastrointestinal permeability has been linked to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The lactulose-to-mannitol ratio is traditionally used to assess small intestine permeability while sucralose and sucrose are used to assess colonic and gastric permeability respectively. We used a single 4-probe test solution to assess permeability throughout the gastrointestinal tract in IBS patients and healthy controls by measuring the recovery of the probes in urine after ingestion using a modified liquid chromatography mass spectrometry protocol. METHODS: Fasting participants (N=59) drank a permeability test solution (100ml: sucralose, sucrose, mannitol, and lactulose). Urine was collected over a 5-h period and kept frozen until analysis. Urinary sugar concentrations were measured using a liquid chromatography/triple quadruple mass spectrometer. RESULTS: Colonic permeability was significantly lower in IBS patients when compared to healthy controls (p=0.011). Gastric and small intestinal permeability did not significantly differ between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates the clinical potential of this non-invasive method for assessing alterations in gastrointestinal permeability in patients with IBS.

Evaluation of four different equations for calculating LDL-C with eight different direct HDL-C assays.

BACKGROUND: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is often calculated (cLDL-C) by the Friedewald equation, which requires high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglycerides (TG). Because there have been considerable changes in the measurement of HDL-C with the introduction of direct assays, several alternative equations have recently been proposed. METHODS: We compared 4 equations (Friedewald, Vujovic, Chen, and Anandaraja) for cLDL-C, using 8 different direct HDL-C (dHDL-C) methods. LDL-C values were calculated by the 4 equations and determined by the ß quantification reference method procedure in 164 subjects. RESULTS: For normotriglyceridemic samples (TG<200mg/dl), between 6.2% and 24.8% of all results exceeded the total error goal of 12% for LDL-C, depending on the dHDL-C assay and cLDL-C equation used. Friedewald equation was found to be the optimum equation for most but not all dHDL-C assays, typically leading to less than 10% misclassification of cardiovascular risk based on LDL-C. Hypertriglyceridemic samples (>200mg/dl) showed a large cardiovascular risk misclassification rate (30%-50%) for all combinations of dHDL-C assays and cLDL-C equations. CONCLUSION: The Friedewald equation showed the best performance for estimating LDL-C, but its accuracy varied considerably depending on the specific dHDL-C assay used. None of the cLDL-C equations performed adequately for hypertriglyceridemic samples.

A longitudinal study of the changes in body fat and metabolic parameters in a South African population of HIV-positive patients receiving an antiretroviral therapeutic regimen containing stavudine.

The aim of this study was to determine the patterns of change in body fat and metabolic parameters in a South African cohort on a first line ART regimen containing stavudine. Fasting lipogram, blood glucose and insulin levels, CD4 cell count, viral load, BMI, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and skinfold thickness at the triceps, scapula, and iliac crest were measured before starting ART in 42 (27 female) subjects. Repeat measurements were performed at four monthly intervals for 2 years. Lipodystrophy was diagnosed using patient perception and assessment by a physician. At baseline, subjects who went on to develop lipodystrophy (LD group) were fatter and had higher skinfold thickness at all three sites and higher insulin levels than subjects who never developed lipodystrophy (NLD group). The WHR increased to a greater extent while hip circumference and tricep skinfolds fell more significantly in the LD than NLD group. Triglyceride and cholesterol levels increased significantly in both groups while lactate and glucose levels increased more and insulin levels increased less in the LD than the NLD group. Neither viral load nor CD4 count differed between the groups during the study. Viral load correlated positively with insulin levels at baseline. Thus, lipodystrophy in the South African population is characterized by a higher BMI before initiation of ART and lipoatrophy of the arms and hips, lipohypertrophy of the waist, and increased lactate production. When compared to the NLD group, the LD subjects display attenuated insulin secretory output in response to a higher weight gain.

Estimating glomerular filtration rate in black South Africans by use of the modification of diet in renal disease and Cockcroft-Gault equations.

BACKGROUND: The 4-variable Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (4-v MDRD) and Cockcroft-Gault (CG) equations are commonly used for estimating glomerular filtration rate (GFR); however, neither of these equations has been validated in an indigenous African population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of the 4-v MDRD and CG equations for estimating GFR in black South Africans against measured GFR and to assess the appropriateness for the local population of the ethnicity factor established for African Americans in the 4-v MDRD equation. METHODS: We enrolled 100 patients in the study. The plasma clearance of chromium-51-EDTA ((51)Cr-EDTA) was used to measure GFR, and serum creatinine was measured using an isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) traceable assay. We estimated GFR using both the reexpressed 4-v MDRD and CG equations and compared it to measured GFR using 4 modalities: correlation coefficient, weighted Deming regression analysis, percentage bias, and proportion of estimated GFR within 30% of measured GFR (P(30)). RESULTS: The Spearman correlation coefficient between measured and estimated GFR for both equations was similar (4-v MDRD R(2) = 0.80 and CG R(2) = 0.79). Using the 4-v MDRD equation with the ethnicity factor of 1.212 as established for African Americans resulted in a median positive bias of 13.1 (95% CI 5.5 to 18.3) mL/min/1.73 m(2). Without the ethnicity factor, median bias was 1.9 (95% CI -0.8 to 4.5) mL/min/1.73 m(2). CONCLUSIONS: The 4-v MDRD equation, without the ethnicity factor of 1.212, can be used for estimating GFR in black South Africans.

Cutting edge: rho activation and actin polarization are dependent on plexin-A1 in dendritic cells.

We recently identified expression of the semaphorin receptor, plexin-A1, in dendritic cells (DCs); however, its function in these cells remains to be elucidated. To investigate function and maximize physiological relevance, we devised a retroviral approach to ablate plexin-A1 gene expression using small hairpin RNA (shRNA) in primary bone marrow-derived DCs. We show that plexin-A1 localizes within the cytoplasm of immature DCs, becomes membrane-associated, and is enriched at the immune synapse in mature DCs. Reducing plexin-A1 expression with shRNA greatly reduced actin polarization as well as Rho activation without affecting Rac or Cdc42 activation. A Rho inhibitor, C3, also reduced actin polarization. These changes were accompanied by the near-ablation of T cell activation. We propose a mechanism of adaptive immune regulation in which plexin-A1 controls Rho activation and actin cytoskeletal rearrangements in DCs that is associated with enhanced DC-T cell interactions.

CIITA-regulated plexin-A1 affects T-cell-dendritic cell interactions.

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II transactivator (CIITA) is the 'master coactivator' of MHC class II genes. To identify new targets of CIITA, we analyzed cDNA microarrays of dendritic cells (DCs) from CIITA-deficient, MHC class II-deficient and control mice. We found the semaphorin receptor plexin-A1 was expressed in DCs, but not in other immune cells, and was strongly induced by CIITA. RNA interference by short hairpin RNA specific for plexin-A1, but not a single-nucleotide mutant, greatly reduced plexin-A1 expression and T cell stimulation by protein- or peptide-antigen-pulsed DCs.Plexin-A1 is not required for peptide binding to MHC. These data indicate involvement of plexin-A1 in T cell-DC interactions but not antigen processing or binding.