Bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells in chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia: overactivated WNT/ß-catenin signalling by parallel RNA sequencing and dysfunctional phenotypes.

Sophisticated cross-talk between bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BM MSCs) and haematopoietic/leukaemic stem cells in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and myeloid leukaemia have been emphasized in previous reports. However, mesenchymal elements in patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (CMML) were poorly investigated. By utilizing a parallel RNA-sequencing method, we investigated the transcriptional profile and functional defects of primary BM MSCs from patients with CMML for the first time. Within a 24-patient cohort, transcriptional and functional analysis reveals a prominent enrichment of WNT/ß-catenin signalling and multiple biology processes. Deregulated expression of WNT/ß-catnin factors CTNNB1, CMYC, LEF1, and FRZB is associated with impaired proliferation, senescence phenotype, and abnormal secretion in CMML MSCs. The impaired ability to support healthy CD34+ haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) correlates with activation of WNT/ß-catenin signalling in CMML MSCs. Furthermore, we observed an association between WNT/ß-catenin factors and treatment response to hypomethylating agents (HMAs) in a cohort of patients with MDS/myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). Taken together, our study provides evidence for transcriptional and functional abnormalities in CMML MSCs, and suggests potential prognostic value of evaluating WNT/ß-catenin signalling in patients with CMML.

Adolescents experienced more treatment failure than children with chronic myeloid leukemia receiving imatinib as frontline therapy: a retrospective multicenter study.

To explore the differences in the clinical features, treatment responses, and outcomes among children, adolescents, and adults with chronic myeloid leukemia in the chronic phase (CML-CP) receiving imatinib as first-line therapy. Data from children (0-8 years for girls and 0-10 years for boys), adolescents (9-19 years for girls and 11-19 years for boys), and adults (age ≥ 20 years) with newly diagnosed CML-CP receiving imatinib as first-line therapy between 2006 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. In total, 135 children (cohort 1), 189 adolescents (cohort 2), and 658 adults (cohort 3: age 20-39 years, n = 305; cohort 4: age 40-59 years, n = 270; and cohort 5: age 60-83 years, n = 83) were included in this study. When compared with children, adolescents showed a significantly higher white blood cell count (P = 0.033) and basophil percentage in peripheral blood (P = 0.002) and a significantly higher prevalence of splenomegaly (P = 0.004). Both children and adolescents presented with more aggressive clinical features than adults. During median follow-ups of 28 months (range, 3-161 months) in children, 33 months (range, 3-152 months) in adolescents, and 48 months (range, 3-157 months) in adults, multivariate analysis showed that children and adolescents had higher probabilities of achieving complete cytogenetic response, major molecular response, and molecular response4.5. Notably, compared with not only adults (cohort 3 vs. cohort 1: HR = 2.03 [1.03, 3.98], P = 0.040; cohort 4 vs. cohort 1: HR = 2.15 [1.07, 4.33], P = 0.033; cohort 5 vs. cohort 1: HR = 4.22 [1.94, 9.15], P < 0.001) but also adolescents (cohort 2 vs. cohort 1: HR = 2.36 [1.18, 4.72], P = 0.015), children had significantly longer failure-free survival. Age was not associated with progression-free survival or overall survival. Although they exhibited more aggressive clinical features at diagnosis, both children and adolescents achieved superior treatment responses than adults. Adolescents showed even more adverse features and a poor FFS than children.

Analysis of the expression of PHTF1 and related genes in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Previous study showed that downregulated BCL11B expression in T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cell line Molt-4 inhibited cell proliferation and induce apoptosis, which may be related to PHTF1 gene overexpression. The objective of this study was to investigate the expression of PHTF1 and related genes in ALL and further explore its function in T-ALL cell lines. METHODS: Real-time PCR was used to determine the gene expression level of PHTF1 in hematologic malignancies. The PHTF1, BCL11B, FEM1B and Apaf-1 gene expression levels and correlations were analyzed in patients with primary ALL (including T-ALL and B-ALL) and healthy individuals (HIs). Inhibition and overexpression of PHTF1 by lentiviral transduction were performed using the Molt-4 and Jurkat cell lines. Cell growth and apoptosis were measured by the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Upon PHTF1 overexpression, the BCL11B, FEM1B and Apaf-1 gene expression levels were determined by real-time PCR. RESULTS: PHTF1 overexpression was found in both T-ALL (p = 0.004) and B-ALL (p < 0.001) groups compared with HIs group. A trend toward a negative correlation between the PHTF1 and BCL11B genes was detected for the T-ALL group, while positively correlated expression was found for the PHTF1 and BCL11B genes in HIs (P = 0.001). FEM1b and Apaf-1 overexpression was found in recently diagnosed ALL patients compared with HIs (p < 0.05). Positively correlated expression was found for the PHTF1, FEM1b and Apaf-1 genes in patients with ALL (p < 0.05) and HIs (p < 0.05). Direct up-regulation of PHTF1 expression inhibited the proliferation of Jurkat and Molt-4 cells and effectively induced apoptosis in Molt-4 cells. Direct inhibition of PHTF1 expression had no significant effect on the proliferation or apoptosis of Jurkat and Molt-4 cells. FEM1b and Apaf-1 overexpression, which did not obviously alter the BCL11B expression level, was detected in PHTF1-transduced T-ALL cell lines. CONCLUSIONS: PHTF1 overexpression is responsible for regulating cell proliferation and apoptosis in T-ALL cell lines. PHTF1 may be a tumor-suppressor like gene and a therapeutic target for triggering the PHTF1-FEM1b-Apaf-1 apoptosis pathway.

Role of Toll-like receptor 4 signaling in cutaneous chronic graft-versus-host disease.

Cutaneous damage is one of the characterized manifestations in chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD). When local effective immunity in the skin is altered to a dysimmune reaction, cutaneous injuries occur. Toll-like receptor 4 signaling is regarded as a central mediator of inflammation and organ injury. In this study, we found that TLR4 mRNA in peripheral blood from patients with cutaneous cGVHD was markedly increased compared with that from non-GVHD patients and healthy controls. In addition, NF-κB expression, TLR4 downstream signaling, and TLR4-mediated cytokines, including IL-6 and ICAM-1, were upregulated. Moreover, ICAM-1 was widely distributed in skin biopsies from patients with cutaneous cGVHD. We also found that LPS induced TLR4-mediated NF-κB activation and IL-6 and ICAM-1 secretion in human fibroblasts in vitro. Thus, TLR4, NF-κB, IL-6, and ICAM-1 contribute to the inflammatory response that occurs in cutaneous cGVHD, indicating the TLR4 pathway may be a novel target for cutaneous cGVHD therapy.

Xiaoqinglong decoction improves allergic rhinitis by inhibiting NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis in BALB/C mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Xiaoqinglong decoction (XQLD), first recorded in Shang Han Lun, is a traditional Chinese medicine prescribed for the treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR). XQLD alleviates the clinical symptoms of AR by inhibiting the occurrence of an inflammatory response, but the specific regulatory mechanism remains unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY: NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis is closely related to AR pathogenesis. Hence, this study aimed to explore the potential role of NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis pathway in the AR-associated pharmacological mechanism of XQLD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: BALB/C mice models of AR was established by using ovalbumin (OVA) and aluminum hydroxide sensitization. After intragastric administration of different dosages of XQLD, nasal allergic symptoms were observed. The expression of OVA-sIgE and Th2 inflammatory factors (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13) in serum was detected by ELISA. The histopathological morphology and expression of inflammatory factors in nasal mucosa along with pyroptosis were investigated. Molecular docking was performed to analyze the binding of representative compounds of XQLD with NLRP3. Activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome was detected by immunofluorescence and western blotting. RESULTS: XQLD significantly improved the nasal allergic symptoms of mice, reduced the degree of goblet cell proliferation, mast cell infiltration, and collagen fiber hyperplasia in nasal mucosa. Meanwhile, it could downregulate the expression of Th2 inflammatory factors (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13) in serum and nasal mucosa. XQLD significantly reduced the number of GSDMD and TUNEL double-positive cells and IL-1ß and IL-18 expression. Molecular docking confirmed that seven representative compounds of XQLD had good binding properties with NLRP3 and were able to inhibit the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. CONCLUSIONS: The representative compounds of XQLD might inhibit pyroptosis in nasal mucosa mediated by the NLRP3 inflammasome to helping the recovery of AR, which provides a new modern pharmacological proof for XQLD to treat AR.

Platycodon D protects human nasal epithelial cells from pyroptosis through the Nrf2/HO-1/ROS signaling cascade in chronic rhinosinusitis.

BACKGROUND: Pyroptosis has been demonstrated being closely associated with the inflammatory progression in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). However, platycodon D (PLD) has emerged as a key anti-inflammatory mediator in the inflammatory progression of various respiratory diseases. This study aims at investigating whether PLD could reduce inflammatory progression of CRS by inhibiting pyroptosis. METHODS: Nasal mucosal tissues from patients with CRS and the control group (simple nasal septal deviation) were analyzed for morphological difference using hematoxylin & eosin staining and for the expression of pyroptosis-related makers by immunofluorescence (IF). Human nasal epithelial cells (HNEpCs) were cultured and co-stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to construct an in vitro cellular model simulating CRS. After pretreatment with PLD, EthD-I staining, TUNEL staining, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and GSDMD-NT detection were performed to evaluate pyroptosis markers. The NLRP3 inflammasome was detected by IF and western blotting (WB). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected by H2DCFDA staining, and mitochondrial membrane potential was evaluated by JC-1 staining. Mitochondrial morphology and structure were observed using TEM. The Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant signaling pathway was detected using WB. RESULTS: The nasal mucosa structure of patients with CRS exhibited significant damage, with a marked increase in the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins compared with the control group. LPS/ATP co-stimulation resulted in an increased expression of IL-18 and IL-1ß in HNEpCs, causing significant damage to nuclear and cell membranes, GSDMD-NT accumulation around the cell membrane, and intracellular NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Furthermore, it led to increased ROS expression, significantly decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, and damaged mitochondrial structure. However, pretreatment with PLD significantly reversed the aforementioned trends and activated the Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study confirm that NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis plays a crucial role in the pathological process of nasal mucosal impairment in patients with CRS. PLD inhibits NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis, preventing inflammatory damage in HNEpCs of patients with CRS by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant signaling pathway, which in turn reduces ROS production and ameliorates mitochondrial damage.

A systematic review and meta-analysis comparing suprapatellar versus infrapatellar approach intramedullary nailing for tibal shaft fractures.

BACKGROUND: The application of the suprapatellar (SP) approach has challenged the traditional infrapatellar (IP) approach in the surgery treatment of tibial shaft fractures, yet the advantages and disadvantages still remain controversial. We included more high-quality studies for this meta-analysis and systematic review to evaluate the clinical outcomes and prognosis of both approaches and thus to provide new ideas for surgeons. METHOD: We searched literatures from PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases from January 2000 to December 2022. We extracted general information including sample size, gender, proportion of open fracture, follow-up time, and outcome indicators including entrance accuracy, fluoroscopy time, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, Lysholm score, VAS pain score, range of motion (ROM) function score, reposition accuracy, and revision cases. Cochrane Collaboration's tool and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale were used to evaluate literature qualities. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 software. RESULTS: A total of 23 studies were generated that qualified for inclusion, 17 of which were used for meta-analysis. This study found statistically significant differences in coronal plane entrance accuracy, fluoroscopy time, Lysholm score, and VAS pain score. CONCLUSION: The results of our meta-analysis showed that the SP approach was significantly better than the IP approach in angle and distance entrance accuracy of coronal plane, angle entrance accuracy of sagittal plane, fluoroscopy time, Lysholm score, and VAS pain score. There were no significant differences in sagittal angle accuracy, operative time, intraoperative blood loss, and ROM score.

A multiparametric flow cytometry immunophenotypic scoring system for the diagnosis and prognosis of myelodysplastic syndromes.

BACKGROUND: Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a group of clonal stem/progenitor cell diseases. The diagnosis of MDS, especially in the early stages, represents a particular challenge. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a multiparametric flow cytometry (FCM) method to analyze the immunophenotypic characteristics of MDS patients and establish a FCM scoring system to evaluate its potential for the diagnosis, classification, and prognosis of MDS. METHODS: 41 bone marrow samples from MDS patients and 30 bone marrow samples from non-MDS patients were subjected to multiparametric flow cytometry. ROC curve and Spearman's correlation analysis were performed to combine the results of hematology, morphology, and cytogenetic analyses of these samples. RESULTS: Based on the proportion of blasts and the expression of antigens on cell populations, we established a BM FCM scoring system. The system has a good correlation rate (p = 0.006) for MDS diagnosis; the 95% confidence interval was 0.921 - 0.997 and the sensitivity and specificity were 90.2% and 86.7%, respectively. The BM FCM scores of the MDS group was significantly higher than the non-MDS group (p = 0.008). Moreover, there were positive correlations between FCM scores and MDS classification, karyotype, and IPSS and WPSS scores. CONCLUSIONS: We have established a BM FCM scoring system that may provide a useful adjunct to existing tests for accurate diagnosis and prognosis of MDS.

Health-related quality of life in children with chronic myeloid leukemia in the chronic phase.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and associated variables in children with chronic myeloid leukemia in the chronic phase (CML-CP) receiving tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire was given to children with CML and their parents, who were < 18 years at diagnosis of CML and < 19 years at study. The questionnaire comprised three parts, including demographic information, clinical information, and the Chinese version of Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ (PedsQL™) Cancer Module 3.0 as HRQoL questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 240 respondents data were analyzed. Multivariate analysis showed that children with symptoms had worse pain (- 10.2; P < 0.001), nausea (- 17.3; P = 0.001), more treatment anxiety (- 7.2; P = 0.005), worse self-assessment appearance (- 7.1; P = 0.001), communication problems (- 6.4; P = 0.001), and worse HRQoL (- 7.0; P < 0.001). Children with mothers having low educational qualifications had worse pain (- 6.0; P = 0.014), more worried about future (- 5.4; P = 0.042), worse cognition problems (- 7.1; P = 0.002), worse communication problems (- 5.5; P = 0.008), and worse HRQoL (- 4.3; P = 0.005). Younger age children at study had more procedural anxiety (2.7; P = 0.001), treatment anxiety (- 1.7; P = 0.014) and cognition problem (3.6; P < 0.001), as well as worse HRQoL (1.8; P = 0.008). However, older age children at diagnosis were more worried about future (- 2.8; P = 0.001), worse self-assessment appearance (- 1.1; P = 0.042) and worse HRQoL (- 1.8; P = 0.007). Other variables significantly associated with worse HRQoL included female gender, rural household registration and their father's low education level. Parents reported more gastrointestinal disorders, were worried about the future and had less concern about appearance than their children. CONCLUSIONS: Female gender, older age at diagnosis, younger age at study, lower mother's education level, and TKI-related symptoms are significantly associated with worse HRQoL in Children with CML. Children and their parents have different priorities in the HRQoL.

Decitabine With or Without Micro-Transplantation for the Treatment of Intermediate or High-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome: A Chinese Single-Center Retrospective Study of 22 Patients.

The treatment outcomes of intermediate or high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) remain unsatisfactory. This study was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-mismatched hematopoietic stem cell micro-transplantation (MST) in patients with MDS. A total of 22 patients with MDS, ranging between the ages of 39 and 74, were enrolled in this study. Eleven patients were given decitabine (DAC), a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, combined with HLA-mismatched MST (MST-DAC group), and the remaining patients were given decitabine only (DAC group). The median overall survival (OS) of the MST-DAC group was higher than that of the DAC group (24 vs. 14.3 months; HR 0.32; 95% CI: 0.11-0.96; p = 0.04), although it is a study with small samples. The overall response rate (ORR), marrow complete remission (mCR), plus hematological improvement (HI) rates of the MST-DAC group were higher than that of the DAC group (81.8 vs. 54.5%, p = 0.36; 63.6 vs. 27.3%, p = 0.09, respectively); however, there were no statistical differences between the two groups, which may be attributed to the limited number of cases evaluated in this study. No graft-vs.-host disease was observed in the MST-DAC group. Patients in the MST-DAC group demonstrated a slightly lower incidence of hematological and non-hematological adverse events (AEs). DAC combined with HLA-mismatched MST may provide a novel, effective, and safe treatment for use in intermediate or high-risk MDS pathologies.

Lower BCL11B expression is associated with adverse clinical outcome for patients with myelodysplastic syndrome.

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is an aggressive and genetically heterogeneous disease with poor prognosis. Cellular immune disorder is a common characteristic of this disease and is thought to be related to clinical outcome. Alterations in T cell clonal expansion and T cell dysfunction has been detected in MDS patients. Little is known about whether there are immune biomarkers to evaluate the T cell alterations with clinical outcome. Previous studies have demonstrated that B-cell leukemia/lymphoma 11B (BCL11B) plays an important role in regulating T cell development and proliferation. In this study, the prognostic value of BCL11B for MDS patients was explored by analyzing RNA-seq data from 270 patients in two datasets in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and real-time quantitative PCR data (qRT-PCR) of 31 bone marrow (BM) samples of MDS and 6 BM samples of patients with MDS progress to secondary acute myeloid leukemia (sAML) from our clinical center. The results demonstrated that BCL11B is significantly down-regulated in MDS patients as compared with healthy individuals (HIs). Importantly, lower BCL11B expression was found in MDS patients who were of high/very high risk, older than 60 y, or male and patients with sAML. Furthermore, low BCL11B expression appeared to be associated with poor overall survival (OS) for MDS patients, though the data were not yet significant enough at this point. In addition, BCL11B low-expressing MDS patients had shorter restricted mean survival time (RMST) than those with high BCL11B expression. Interestingly, BCL11B positively correlated with naive and activated memory CD4 + T cells, CD8 + T cells, and the T cell receptor complex genes CD3E and CD3G, but it negatively correlated with regulatory T cells (Treg). Additionally, co-occurrence of low BCL11B expression and CD3E and CD3G was associated with poor OS and shorter RMST. In conclusion, lower BCL11B expression in BM samples of MDS patients was associated with adverse clinical outcome.

Phenotype of mesenchymal stem cells from patients with myelodyplastic syndrome maybe partly modulated by decitabine.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs) have been demonstrated to accelerate the progression of MDS. However, whether the phenotype of MSCs derived from MDS (MDS-MSCs) may be reversed and serve as a potential target for the treatment of MDS remains unclear. The present study investigated the functional alternations of MDS-MSCs following in vitro decitabine-treatment. Primary MSCs were cultured from the bone marrow aspirates of 28 patients with MDS. The impact on the growth of MDS-MSCs treated with decitabine was analyzed using the MTT assay. Changes in the gene expression levels of runt related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), Sp7 transcription factor (SP7), cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (CDKN1A) and CD274 in MDS-MSCs following treatment with decitabine were analyzed by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The effects of decitabine on apoptosis and the cell cycle were examined using flow cytometry. The effect of decitabine on the immune regulation of MDS-MSCs was tested by the co-culture of MSCs with activated T cells in vitro. The results revealed that proliferation, apoptosis and the mRNA expression levels of RUNX2 and SP7 in MDS-MSCs did not significantly change following treatment with decitabine compared with control MDS-MSCs. However, treatment with decitabine resulted in a smaller population of cells in the G1 phase and an increase in the number of cells in the G2/M phase compared with control MDS-MSCs. This change was associated with decreased expression of CDKN1A in cells treated with decitabine compared with control cells. Notably, the ability of MDS-MSCs treated with decitabine to induce the differentiation of T cells into regulatory T cells was significantly reduced compared with control MDS-MSCs. This was associated with a decreased expression of CD274 in MDS-MSCs treated with decitabine compared with control MDS-MSCs. In conclusion, the phenotype of MSCs derived from patients with MDS was partially reversed by treatment with decitabine, presenting a potential therapeutic intervention.

Co-occurrence of RUNX1 and ASXL1 mutations underlie poor response and outcome for MDS patients treated with HMAs.

The molecular determinants of the clinical response to Hypomethylating agents (HMAs) in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are unclear. We analyzed 84 adult patients with MDS who received hypomethylating agents (HMAs) and identified somatic mutations and their relationship to clinical response and survival. The results showed in the MDS patients with ASXL1 mutations,the most frequent co-occurring mutations were RUNX1 mutations, with a significant higher frequency of 43% compared to 17% in wild-type ASXL1 (P = 0.032). ASXL1 mutation demonstrated a significant negative overall response rate (8% vs. 29.4%, x2 = 5.228, P = 0.022), particularly when co-occurring with RUNX1 mutations (P = 0.008). And all patients with RUNX1 and ASXL1 mutations died with a shorter median overall survival of only 14 months (P = 0.002). Moreover, TP53 mutations were associated with unfavorable-risk cytogenetic changes, and responded well to HMAs, with the exception of one case with RUNX1 and ASXL1 gene mutation. In a word, RUNX1 mutations are frequently found in MDS patients with ASXL1-mutations, and Co-occurrence of RUNX1 and ASXL1 mutations are associated with poor response to HMAs and inferior survival.

A retrospective study comparing azacitidine with decitabine in Chinese patients with refractory anemia with excess blast based on two clinical trials in a single center.

The aim of the present study was to conduct a retrospective analysis of efficacy and safety profiles of azacitidine (AZA) versus. decitabine (DAC) in Chinese patients with intermediate or higher-risk MDS, which was based on two clinical trials in a single center. A total of 40 included MDS patients diagnosed with refractory anemia with excess blast (RAEB) were from two independent clinic trials. Patients in each trial received either AZA (n = 19) or DAC (n = 21) respectively, and the effectiveness as well as the safety profile of the two drugs were compared. Patients treated with AZA showed a comparative efficacy to DAC group with regard to the overall response rate (73.7% versus. 76.2%, P = 0.86), overall survival (median: 19.3 versus. 20.8 months, P = 0.56), progression-free survival (median: 12.3 versus. 9.3 months, P = 0.43) and leukemia-free survival (median: 22.8 versus. 26.6 months, P = 0.62). Patients treated with DAC showed slightly higher incidence of severe hematological adverse events during the whole treatment. Comparing hematological AEs in each observation interval, a trend of higher percentage of neutropenia, leukopenia and anemia as well as treatment delays were seen during the first 6 cycles in the DAC group.

Correction to: A novel generation 1928zT2 CAR T cells induce remission in extramedullary relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The original article [1] contains an error in authorship whereby author, Robert Weinkove's name is mistakenly inverted. The configuration noted in this Correction article should be considered instead along with author's updated affiliation.

A novel generation 1928zT2 CAR T cells induce remission in extramedullary relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have shown promise in the treatment of B cell acute lymphocytic leukemia (B-ALL). However, its efficacy in B-ALL patients with extramedullary involvement is limited due to poor responses and neurotoxicity. Here, we utilized a third generation of CAR T cell vector, which contains the Toll/interleukin-1 receptor (ITR) domain of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), to generate 1928zT2 T cells targeting CD19, and evaluated the efficacy of 1928zT2 T cells in relapse or refractory B-ALL patients with extramedullary involvement. METHODS: 1928zT2 T cells were generated by 19-28z-TLR2 lentiviral vector transfection into primary human T lymphocytes. The anti-leukemia effect of 1928zT2 T cells were determined by killing assays and in xenografts. Three patients diagnosed as relapse or refractory ALL with extramedullary involvement were infused with 1928zT2 T cells, and the clinical responses were evaluated by BM smear, B-ultrasonography, PET/CT, histology, flow cytometry, qPCR, ELISA, and luminex assay. RESULTS: 1928zT2 T cells exhibited enhanced effector function against CD19+ leukemic cells in vitro and in a xenograft model of human extramedullary leukemia. Notably, the 1928zT2 T cells eradicated extramedullary leukemia and induced complete remission in the three relapse and refractory ALL patients without serious adverse effects. 1928zT2 T cells expanded robustly in the circulation of these three patients and were detected in the cerebrospinal fluid of patient 3. These three patients experienced cytokine release syndrome (CRS) with grade 2 or 3, which remitted spontaneously or after tocilizumab treatment. None of the three patients suffered neurotoxicity or needed further intensive care. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that 1928zT2 T cells with TLR2 incorporation augment anti-leukemic effects, particularly for eradicating extramedullary leukemia cells, and suggest that the infusion of 1928zT2 T cells is an encouraging treatment for relapsed/refractory ALL patients with extramedullary involvement. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02822326 . Date of registration: July 4, 2016.

Inhibitory effects of anti-CII TA M1-RNA on IFN-gamma induced major histocompatibility complex class II antigens expression on cultured human chondrocytes.

Major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II) trans-activator (CII TA) has been shown to be required for constitutive and IFN-gamma-induced MHC-II transcription. This study investigated the inhibitory effect of anti-CII TA M1-RNA on expression of MHC-II in chondrocytes in response to IFN-gamma. M1-RNAs with different guide sequence (GS) recognizing 452 or 3408 sites in CII TA (M1-452-GS and M1-3408-GS, respectively) were cloned into pUC19 vector. Target mRNA (3176-3560) in CII TA was obtained from Raji cell and inserted into pGEM-7zf(+) plasmid. The recombinant M1-RNAs and their target mRNA were incubated in a cell-free condition. It showed that only M1-3408-GS could cleave the target mRNA exclusively. M1-3408-GS was also cloned into psNAV vector (named pA3408). Chondrocytes was stably transfected with pA3408 and expressions of classical MHC-II (HLA-DR, -DP, -DQ) were analyzed by Flow Cytometry. The level of CII TA mRNA was measured by RT-PCR. Peripheral blood mono-nucleated cells (PBMNCs) were stimulated by pA3408-positive chondrocytes in mixed lymphocyte reaction, and proliferation of PBMNCs and IL-2 mRNA were detected. The expression of HLA-DR and HLA-DP on pA3408-positive chondrocytes in response to IFN-gamma decreased 73.00%+/-5.24%, 88.47%+/-2.02%, respectively (P<0.05); So did the content of CII TA mRNA (70.11%+/-5.79%, P<0.05). Proliferation of PBMNCs and production of IL-2 mRNA were both inhibited by pA3408 in mixed lymphocyte reaction. This is the first description that anti-CII TA M1-RNA could prevent IFN-gamma-induced CII TA transcription and results in a decreased MHC-II expression in chondrocytes.

[JAK3 mRNA level in graft versus host disease patients: a preliminary study].

OBJECTIVE: To quantify peripheral blood mononuclear cell JAK3 mRNA levels after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell (allo-HSCT) transplantation, and to explore its relationship with graft vs host disease (GVHD). METHODS: Serial monitoring of JAK3 mRNA levels by fluorescent quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (FQ-RT-PCR) technique was performed on 26 cases (83 samples) after allo-HSCT. RESULTS: The mean JAK3/ABL expression levels was 8.71 in 14 patients without GVHD; the JAK3/ABL expression level was 31.94 in one patient with acute GVHD (aGVHD); the mean JAK3/ABL expression levels was 19.23 in 11 patients with chronic GVHD (cGVHD), and the cGVHD was diagnosed at the mean time of six months (3 - 12 months). The JAK3/ABL expression levels did not change in 4 patients one month after allo-HSCT, however, the levels increased again when GVHD were diagnosed in these 4 patients, and the JAK3/ABL expression levels decreased again when GVHD was remitted. CONCLUSION: The JAK3 expression level related to the remission and relapse in patients with GVHD.

Attenuation of cGVHD by C5a/C5aR blockade is associated with increased frequency of Treg.

C5aR signaling plays an important role in the regulation of T cell activation and alloimmune responses in chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD). However, direct evidence of this modulation and the efficacy of C5aR blockade in the treatment of cGVHD have not been demonstrated. We observed higher expression of C5aR on both monocytes and T cells of patients with cGVHD compared with healthy controls and non-GVHD patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Our data also demonstrated a significant negative correlation between C5aR expression and regulatory T cells (Treg) frequency in cGVHD patients, indicating a potential role of C5aR in the generation and regulation of Treg. In addition, an in vitro experiment revealed C5aR deficiency promoted the development of Treg whereas C5a activation abolished the differentiation of Treg. Importantly, we found C5aR blockade by PMX53 attenuated the pathology of cGVHD and improved the survival of cGVHD mice. PMX53 had a direct regulatory effect on Treg commitment and increased TGF-ß1 expression. Thus, C5aR signaling may induce and intensify cGVHD by down-regulating Treg induction. The modulation of C5aR activation by PMX53 may provide a potential therapy for cGVHD.