Autograft cellular composition and outcome in NHL patients: results of the prospective multicenter GOA study.

Autologous stem cell transplantation (auto-SCT) is an established treatment option in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). In this prospective multicenter study, the effect of infused blood graft cellular composition on post-transplant outcome was analyzed in 129 NHL patients. Higher graft CD34+ cell content (>2.5 × 106/kg) correlated with better progression-free survival (PFS) (p=.009) and overall survival (OS) (p=.004). Higher graft CD34+CD133+CD38- counts (>0.08 × 106/kg) were also linked with better PFS (p=.03) and OS (p=.004), and these survival benefits retained in multivariate analyses. Higher infused CD3+CD4+ cell count (>37 × 106/kg) predicted better PFS (p=.013) and OS (p=.007) in multivariate analysis. Autograft cellular composition seems to impact outcome in NHL patients. These observations regarding composition of optimal graft in autologous setting should be validated in an independent patient series or in a randomized study.

CD34+ cell mobilization, blood graft composition, and posttransplant recovery in myeloma patients compared to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients: results of the prospective multicenter GOA study.

BACKGROUND: Autologous stem cell transplantation is an established treatment option for patients with multiple myeloma (MM) or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In this prospective multicenter study, 147 patients with MM were compared with 136 patients with NHL regarding the mobilization and apheresis of blood CD34+ cells, cellular composition of infused blood grafts, posttransplant recovery, and outcome. RESULTS: Multiple myeloma patients mobilized CD34+ cells more effectively (6.3 × 106 /kg vs. 3.9 × 106 /kg, p = 0.001). The proportion of poor mobilizers (peak blood CD34+ cell count <20 × 106 /L) was higher in NHL patients (15% vs. 3%, p < 0.001). Plerixafor was added to rescue the mobilization failure in 17 MM patients (12%) and in 35 NHL patients (26%; p = 0.002). The infused grafts contained more natural killer (NK) and CD19+ cells in MM patients. Blood platelet and NK-cell counts were higher in MM patients posttransplant. Early treatment-related mortality was low in both groups, but NHL patients had a higher late (>100 days) nonrelapse mortality (NRM; 6% vs. 0%, p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and MM patients differ in terms of mobilization of CD34+ cells, graft cellular composition, and posttransplant recovery. Thus, the optimal graft characteristics may also be different.

Blood graft composition and post-transplant recovery in myeloma patients mobilized with plerixafor: a prospective multicenter study.

The composition of autologous blood grafts after cryopreservation, post-transplant hematological recovery up to 1 year and immune recovery up to 6 months as well as outcome was analyzed in 87 patients with multiple myeloma (MM). The patients receiving added plerixafor due to poor mobilization (11%) were compared to those mobilized with G-CSF or cyclophosphamide (CY) plus G-CSF. The use of plerixafor was found to significantly affect the graft composition as there was a significantly higher proportion of the more primitive CD34+ cells, higher number of T and B lymphocytes as well as NK cells in the grafts of patients who received also plerixafor. The hematological recovery after auto-SCT was comparable between the groups. The recovery of CD3+CD4+ T cells was faster in plerixafor mobilized patients at 1 and 3 months post-transplant. There were no significant differences in progression-free (PFS) or overall survival (OS) according to the plerixafor use.

Impact of lenalidomide-based induction therapy on the mobilization of CD34+ cells, blood graft cellular composition, and post-transplant recovery in myeloma patients: a prospective multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Lenalidomide is an immunomodulatory drug that is also currently used in transplant-eligible patients with multiple myeloma. Previous studies have suggested a negative impact of lenalidomide on the mobilization of CD34+ cells. No data are available regarding the more detailed composition of blood grafts after lenalidomide. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In a multicenter, prospective study, we analyzed the mobilization of CD34+ cells, graft cellular composition, and post-transplant hematologic recovery in 26 patients with multiple myeloma after lenalidomide-based induction and in 34 lenalidomide-naive controls with multiple myeloma. All patients were mobilized with low-dose cyclophosphamide plus granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor. The cellular composition of the grafts was analyzed from thawed, cryopreserved samples with flow cytometry. Graft function was evaluated by engraftment data and by complete blood counts until 12 months after the graft infusion. RESULTS: Patients in the lenalidomide arm had lower median peak CD34+ counts and approximately 40% lower CD34+ cell yields from the first apheresis session, but these differences were not significant. The median total number of CD34+ cells collected was comparable (6.4 vs. 7.5 × 106 /kg). The number of apheresis sessions was higher in the lenalidomide group (2 vs. 1; p = 0.039). The blood graft composition was comparable between the groups. Hematologic recovery within 12 months post-transplant did not differ between the groups. CONCLUSION: Lenalidomide-based induction seems to have an impact on the number of aphereses performed, but not on the total yields of the CD34+ cells in the graft. Neither cellular composition of the grafts nor post-transplant recovery was affected by the limited pre-transplant exposure to lenalidomide.

Blood graft cellular composition and posttransplant outcomes in myeloma patients mobilized with or without low-dose cyclophosphamide: a randomized comparison.

BACKGROUND: Autologous stem cell transplantation is a standard treatment in multiple myeloma (MM). Blood grafts are usually collected after mobilization with granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) alone or in a combination with cyclophosphamide (CY). There is limited knowledge of the possible effects of different mobilization regimens on blood graft characteristics and posttransplant outcomes. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with MM were included in this study. The patients were randomly assigned at registration to mobilization with either low-dose CY plus G-CSF (Arm A) or G-CSF alone (Arm B) and received three cycles of lenalidomide, bortetzomib, and dexamethasone induction. Flow cytometry analysis of lymphocyte subsets in the blood grafts after cryopreservation was performed. Hematologic and immune recovery were evaluated up to 12 months posttransplant. RESULTS: The blood grafts in Arm A contained significantly more CD34+ cells but in Arm B there was a greater proportion of CD34+CD38- cells and higher numbers of T and B lymphocytes as well as natural killer (NK) cells. The engraftment was comparable but lymphocyte count at 15 days posttransplant was higher in Arm B (0.8 × 10(9) /L vs. 0.5 × 10(9) /L, p = 0.033). At 3 and 6 months posttransplant the total number of NK cells was also higher in G-CSF-mobilized patients. There was no difference in progression-free survival between the study arms. CONCLUSION: CY plus G-GSF yields more CD34+ cells but seems to diminish lymphocyte and NK cell counts in the grafts and hampers immune recovery after transplantation. Thus G-CSF alone might be a preferred mobilization method due to more rapid immune recovery posttransplant.

Early immune recovery after autologous transplantation in non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients: predictive factors and clinical significance.

Limited data is available about the factors affecting early immune recovery or its clinical significance after autologous stem cell transplantation (auto-SCT). We prospectively analyzed factors affecting early immune recovery and outcome among 72 non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) patients. Absolute lymphocyte count 15 d after auto-SCT (ALC-15) ≥ 0.5 × 10(9)/L was associated with the use of plerixafor (p = 0.004), the number of CD34(+) cells (p = 0.015), and CD34(+) CD38(-) cells (p = 0.005) in the grafts. ALC-15 ≥ 0.5 × 10(9)/L was associated with improved overall survival (p = 0.021). In patients with aggressive histology, ALC-15 ≥ 0.5 × 10(9)/L was beneficial in regard to both progression-free survival (p = 0.015) and overall survival (p = 0.002). Early immune recovery seems to be important in transplanted patients with NHL and, therefore, an easy and affordable method for disease-related risk analysis. Patients with aggressive histology and slow immune recovery may need additional post-transplant treatment.

Differential Expression of Bcl-2 Family Proteins Determines the Sensitivity of Human Follicular Lymphoma Cells to Dexamethasone-mediated and Anti-BCR-mediated Apoptosis.

Bcl-2 family comprises proapoptotic and antiapoptotic proteins. The balance between these proteins is critical for the survival of the cells. Overexpression of the antiapoptotic protein, Bcl-2, is the hallmark of follicular lymphoma (FL). High expression of Bcl-2 provides survival advantage and may facilitate chemotherapeutic resistance in FL. In the present study, we examined expression profile of Bcl-2 family proteins such as Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and Bim in human FL cell lines, HF1A3 and HF28. We assessed the correlation between the expression levels of these proteins and cells' sensitivity to dexamethasone (Dex)-mediated and B-cell receptor (BCR)-mediated apoptosis. Here, we show that Dex and anti-BCR-induced synergistic apoptosis which correlated with significant downregulation of Bcl-xL, inhibition of ERK1/2 phosphorylation and accumulation of nonphosphorylated Bim. However, HF28 cells were less sensitive than HF1A3 cells to Dex-induced and anti-BCR-induced apoptosis due to high Bcl-2 protein level. It is interesting to note that, a Bcl-2-specific inhibitor, ABT-199, sensitized HF28 cells to Dex-induced or anti-BCR-induced apoptosis. In addition, overexpression of Bcl-xL prevented Dex-mediated, anti-BCR-mediated, and ABT-199-mediated apoptosis, indicating that mitochondria were involved. In conclusion, these data show that the expression levels of Bcl-2 family proteins may serve to predict tumor response to BH3 mimetics and the sensitivity of FL cells to Dex-induced and anti-BCR-induced apoptosis. Moreover, our results show that BCR-targeted apoptosis might have therapeutic benefit against FL and B-cell lymphomas.

Hyaluronan synthase 3 (HAS3) overexpression downregulates MV3 melanoma cell proliferation, migration and adhesion.

Malignant skin melanoma is one of the most deadly human cancers. Extracellular matrix (ECM) influences the growth of malignant tumors by modulating tumor cells adhesion and migration. Hyaluronan is an essential component of the ECM, and its amount is altered in many tumors, suggesting an important role for hyaluronan in tumorigenesis. Nonetheless its role in melanomagenesis is not understood. In this study we produced a MV3 melanoma cell line with inducible expression of the hyaluronan synthase 3 (HAS3) and studied its effect on the behavior of the melanoma cells. HAS3 overexpression expanded the cell surface hyaluronan coat and decreased melanoma cell adhesion, migration and proliferation by cell cycle arrest at G1/G0. Melanoma cell migration was restored by removal of cell surface hyaluronan by Streptomyces hyaluronidase and by receptor blocking with hyaluronan oligosaccharides, while the effect on cell proliferation was receptor independent. Overexpression of HAS3 decreased ERK1/2 phosphorylation suggesting that inhibition of MAP-kinase signaling was responsible for these suppressive effects on the malignant phenotype of MV3 melanoma cells.

ERK1/2 has an essential role in B cell receptor- and CD40-induced signaling in an in vitro model of germinal center B cell selection.

Germinal center (GC) B cells undergo apoptosis after B cell receptor (BCR) ligation, unless they receive CD40-mediated survival signal from helper T cells. In the present study, we used a human follicular lymphoma cell line HF1A3, as an in vitro model to study the selection process in germinal centers. We show here that BCR ligation led to immediate ERK1/2 activation and phosphorylations of its downstream targets, Bim EL/L and Bcl-2 (at Ser70) which resulted in short-term survival. On the other hand, during the late phase of BCR signaling, ERK1/2 phosphorylation was inhibited which resulted in apoptosis. In addition, CD40 signaling led to sustained ERK1/2 activation and up-regulation of Bcl-xL in BCR-primed HF1A3 GC B cells. In conclusion, MEK-ERK pathway and Bcl-2 family proteins are crucial players in BCR-mediated survival/apoptosis and CD40-mediated survival.

Blood graft cellular composition and posttransplant recovery in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients mobilized with or without plerixafor: a prospective comparison.

BACKGROUND: Autologous stem cell transplantation is commonly used to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs). Cellular composition of the blood grafts apparently has a role in the posttransplant hematologic and immune recovery. Plerixafor increases the mobilization of CD34+ cells and higher amounts of various lymphocyte subsets have been reported in the grafts. Limited prospective data are available in regard to graft cellular composition, hematologic and immune recovery, and patient outcomes in NHL patients who receive plerixafor added to chemomobilization. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Forty-one patients with NHL participated in this prospective study. All patients received chemomobilization and 15 poor mobilizers also received plerixafor. CD34+ cell subsets and lymphocyte subsets of cell grafts, posttransplant hematologic and immune recovery, and outcome were evaluated. RESULTS: Blood grafts in the plerixafor group contained a significantly higher proportion of CD34+133+CD38- cells and more lymphocytes of all major subsets except B lymphocytes. Neutrophil engraftment was comparable and platelet recovery slightly slower in the plerixafor group. Natural killer cell recovery was significantly faster in patients mobilized with plerixafor. Otherwise hematologic and immune recovery as well as short-time outcome were comparable even though there was a trend for progression-free survival and overall survival benefit in the plerixafor group. CONCLUSIONS: In poorly mobilizing NHL patients, plerixafor added to chemomobilization is safe and effective. It also modifies the blood graft composition in many ways, some of which have been linked to better outcomes in previous studies. Larger sets of patients and longer follow-up are needed to see whether plerixafor-mobilized grafts are associated with superior outcome of the patients.

Rituximab-induced early and late signaling have opposite effects on dexamethasone-induced apoptosis in human follicular lymphoma cells.

The addition of rituximab (RTX) to standard chemotherapy has improved the treatment of B-cell malignancies. We show here that RTX and dexamethasone (Dex) induced synergistic apoptosis in follicular lymphoma cell lines. However, apoptosis was delayed by RTX-induced early protective signaling. RTX-induced early signaling also decreased Dex-induced apoptosis and led to phosphorylation of ERK1/2, Bcl-2 (at serine 70) and phosphorylation/degradation of BimL/EL. All these events were prevented by the MEK inhibitor, UO126. Therefore, we suggest that RTX-induced ERK-mediated signaling events lead to protection from apoptosis during early signaling and that blocking of Bim and Bcl-2 phosphorylation might be used as a novel strategy for lymphoma treatment.

Rab10-mediated endocytosis of the hyaluronan synthase HAS3 regulates hyaluronan synthesis and cell adhesion to collagen.

Hyaluronan synthases (HAS1-3) are unique in that they are active only when located in the plasma membrane, where they extrude the growing hyaluronan (HA) directly into cell surface and extracellular space. Therefore, traffic of HAS to/from the plasma membrane is crucial for the synthesis of HA. In this study, we have identified Rab10 GTPase as the first protein known to be involved in the control of this traffic. Rab10 colocalized with HAS3 in intracellular vesicular structures and was co-immunoprecipitated with HAS3 from isolated endosomal vesicles. Rab10 silencing increased the plasma membrane residence of HAS3, resulting in a significant increase of HA secretion and an enlarged cell surface HA coat, whereas Rab10 overexpression suppressed HA synthesis. Rab10 silencing blocked the retrograde traffic of HAS3 from the plasma membrane to early endosomes. The cell surface HA coat impaired cell adhesion to type I collagen, as indicated by recovery of adhesion following hyaluronidase treatment. The data indicate a novel function for Rab10 in reducing cell surface HAS3, suppressing HA synthesis, and facilitating cell adhesion to type I collagen. These are processes important in tissue injury, inflammation, and malignant growth.

Cell cycle regulatory effects of retinoic Acid and forskolin are mediated by the cyclin C gene.

As a partner of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 3, Cyclin C controls cellular proliferation and, together with CDK8, represses gene transcription. In this study, we showed that the highly expressed Cyclin C gene is a direct target of the nuclear hormone all-trans retinoic acid (RA) in HEK293 human embryonal kidney cells. The RA receptor (RAR) gamma associates with a Cyclin C promoter region containing two RAR binding sites. The Cyclin C gene also directly responds to the cAMP activator Forskolin via the transcription factor CREB1 (cAMP response element-binding protein 1), for which we identified four binding sites within the first 2250 bp of its promoter. RARgamma and CREB1 show functional convergence via the corepressor NCoR1, which controls in particular the Forskolin response of Cyclin C. The histone deacetylases 1, 5, 6, 7 and 11 are involved in the basal expression of Cyclin C, but in HEK293 and MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells the antiproliferative effects of the histone deacetylase inhibitor SAHA (suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid) are not mediated by Cyclin C. However, cell cycle progressing effects of all-trans RA and Forskolin are dependent on Cyclin C expression levels. This suggests that the primary regulation of Cyclin C by all-trans RA and Forskolin mediates some of the cell cycle control actions of these compounds.

Dexamethasone-induced apoptosis and up-regulation of Bim is dependent on glycogen synthase kinase-3.

Glucocorticoids are commonly used in the treatment of lymphoid malignancies. In this study, we show that apoptosis induced by dexamethasone (Dex), a synthetic glucocorticoid, was dependent on mitochondria, since overexpression of Bcl-X(L) prevented Dex-induced apoptotic changes. Dominant negative (DN) caspase-9 also prevented Dex-induced apoptotic changes including the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential indicating that caspase-9 controls mitochondrial changes. In addition, we evaluated the role of glycogen synthase kinase (GSK3) in Dex-induced apoptosis. Inhibition of GSK3 attenuated Dex-induced up-regulation of Bim, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, release of cyt c and DNA fragmentation. These results indicate that GSK3 contributes to Dex-induced apoptosis by controlling up-regulation of Bim.

The involvement of mitochondria and the caspase-9 activation pathway in rituximab-induced apoptosis in FL cells.

Despite the wide use of anti-CD20 antibody rituximab in the cancer treatment of B cell malignancies, the signalling pathways of CD20-induced apoptosis are still not understood. By using dominant negative (DN)-caspase-9 overexpressing follicular lymphoma cells we demonstrated that the activation of caspase-9 was essential for rituximab-mediated apoptosis. The death receptor pathway mediated by caspase-8 activation was not involved in rituximab-mediated apoptosis since overexpression of FLIP(short) or FLIP(long) proteins, inhibitors of caspase-8 activation, could not inhibit rituximab-induced apoptosis. However, the death receptor pathway activation by anti-Fas antibodies showed an additive effect on rituximab-induced apoptosis. The stabilisation of the mitochondrial outer membrane by Bcl-x(L) overexpression inhibited cell death, showing the important role of mitochondria in rituximab-induced apoptosis. Interestingly, the rituximab-induced release of cytochrome c and collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential were regulated by caspase-9. We suggest that caspase-9 and downstream caspases may feed back to mitochondria to amplify mitochondrial disruption during intrinsic apoptosis.

PDTC enables type I TRAIL signaling in type II follicular lymphoma cells.

Based on Bcl-X(L) overexpression studies we identified type I and type II follicular lymphoma cell lines in response to TRAIL. We demonstrate here that either amount of caspase-8 activation or Bid cleavage could not define the dependence on mitochondria. Furthermore, an inhibitor of NF-kappaB, PDTC, enabled TRAIL to activate type I apoptotic pathway in type II cells. However, an inhibitor of IKK did not switch apoptosis to type I pathway in type II cells, indicating that NF-kappaB might not be responsible for the switch.

Distinct HDACs regulate the transcriptional response of human cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor genes to Trichostatin A and 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3.

The anti-proliferative effects of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors and 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1alpha,25(OH)2D3] converge via the interaction of un-liganded vitamin D receptor (VDR) with co-repressors recruiting multiprotein complexes containing HDACs and via the induction of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (CDKI) genes of the INK4 and Cip/Kip family. We investigated the effects of the HDAC inhibitor Trichostatin A (TSA) and 1alpha,25(OH)2D3 on the proliferation and CDKI gene expression in malignant and non-malignant mammary epithelial cell lines. TSA induced the INK4-family genes p18 and p19, whereas the Cip/Kip family gene p21 was stimulated by 1alpha,25(OH)2D3. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and RNA inhibition assays showed that the co-repressor NCoR1 and some HDAC family members complexed un-liganded VDR and repressed the basal level of CDKI genes, but their role in regulating CDKI gene expression by TSA and 1alpha,25(OH)2D3 were contrary. HDAC3 and HDAC7 attenuated 1alpha,25(OH)2D3-dependent induction of the p21 gene, for which NCoR1 is essential. In contrast, TSA-mediated induction of the p18 gene was dependent on HDAC3 and HDAC4, but was opposed by NCoR1 and un-liganded VDR. This suggests that the attenuation of the response to TSA by NCoR1 or that to 1alpha,25(OH)2D3 by HDACs can be overcome by their combined application achieving maximal induction of anti-proliferative target genes.

The CD40-induced protection against CD95-mediated apoptosis is associated with a rapid upregulation of anti-apoptotic c-FLIP.

CD95/Fas and CD40 receptors are important regulators of cell survival during germinal center reaction. In this study we used a human follicular lymphoma cell line, HF1A3, to study molecular mechanisms of CD95-mediated apoptosis and CD40-induced rescue from apoptosis. CD95 stimulation induced activation of caspase-8 and -3, collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsim), release of cytochrome c and fragmentation of nuclear DNA. All these apoptotic events were abrogated, when cells were pretreated with CD40 antibodies before CD95 stimulation. CD40 induced a rapid up regulation of both short and long isoforms of c-FLIP, as these proteins were detectable 4h after receptor stimulation. The induction of c-FLIP as well as the anti-apoptotic function of CD40 was completely abolished when NF-kappaB activity was inhibited by a selective inhibitor PDTC. We conclude that the anti-apoptotic signaling of CD40 involves NF-kappaB-mediated induction of c-FLIP proteins which can interfere with caspase-8 activation. However, it remains to be seen whether c-FLIP proteins are the only one ones involved in CD40-mediated protection.

Inhibition of PI3-kinase-Akt pathway enhances dexamethasone-induced apoptosis in a human follicular lymphoma cell line.

Glucocorticoids are commonly used in the treatment of various lymphoid malignancies. In the present study, we show that dexamethasone (Dex) induced depolarization of mitochondrial membrane, release of cytochrome c and DNA fragmentation in a human follicular lymphoma cell line, HF28RA. New protein synthesis was required before Dex-induced mitochondrial changes, and the kinetics of the apoptotic events correlated with the upregulation of the Bim protein. Furthermore, we studied whether specific inhibitors of known survival pathways would potentiate Dex-induced apoptosis. Our results show that inhibition of PKC and ERK pathways had no effect on apoptosis. In contrast, inhibition of PI3-kinase or Akt markedly enhanced Dex-induced apoptosis. The enhancement was seen at the mitochondrial level, and the kinetics of apoptosis was notably accelerated. In addition, inhibition of PI3-kinase did not alter levels of Bax, Bcl-2, Bcl-X(L) or Bim proteins in mitochondria but caused translocation of the pro-apoptotic protein Bad to mitochondria. However, inhibition of PI3-kinase-Akt pathway and subsequent translocation of Bad to mitochondria did not induce apoptosis itself. Based on these results and our current understanding of Bim and Bad action, it seems that both proteins play a synergistic role in this process. Thus, these results indicate that inhibitors of PI3-kinase-Akt pathway might be combined in future with glucocorticoids to improve the treatment of lymphoid malignancies.

Kinetics and signaling requirements of CD40-mediated protection from B cell receptor-induced apoptosis.

In the present study we used a human follicular lymphoma cell line, HF1A3, as an in vitro model for the antigen-driven selection process in germinal centers. Apoptosis can be induced in HF1A3 cells by B cell receptor (BCR) stimulation, but the molecular mechanisms and kinetics of this process are largely unknown. We demonstrate here that there is over 12 h delay between receptor activation and the execution phase of apoptosis, i.e. disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential, release of cytochrome c from mitochondria, caspase-3 activation and DNA fragmentation. New protein synthesis is required for mitochondrial alterations and subsequent apoptosis to occur, as these processes are completely blocked by the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide. All the apoptotic events induced by BCR triggering are completely reversed by CD40 ligation with anti-CD40 antibody. CD40 ligation can reverse the apoptotic process in HF1A3 cells almost until the first mitochondrial events take place demonstrating that CD40-mediated protection operates very fast and at or before mitochondrial phase of apoptosis. Using specific inhibitors of cell signaling we could demonstrate that Raf-extracellular signal-regulated kinase, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, p38 or protein kinase C activation pathways are not involved in CD40-mediated protection from BCR-induced apoptosis in HF1A3 cells.