Analysis of Cell Subsets in Donor Lymphocyte Infusions from HLA Identical Sibling Donors after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplant.

Donor lymphocytes infusions (DLIs) are a major therapeutic approach to treat relapse and mixed chimerism after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (alloHCT). The impact of the composition regarding different cell subsets in the development of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is not fully understood. We performed a cell subsets analysis of 56 DLIs from fully HLA-compatible identical matched sibling donors (MSDs) in 36 alloHCT patients and studied its association with GVHD. A median of one DLI was infused per patient. Fourteen patients (38%) developed GVHD. The cell composition analysis of the first DLI (DLI1) showed that a high dose of B cells (P = .03) and CD27+ B cells (P < .01) was associated with GVHD. We identified DLI dose cutoff points for several cell populations above which GVHD was more frequent (CD8+ TN >3 × 106 cells/kg, CD27+ B cells >2.6 × 106/kg, CD27+ NK >0.35 × 106 cells/kg, and mononuclear cells >0.83 × 108/kg). Noteworthy, the proportion of CD4+ naive T cells (TN) or unselected TN was not linked with GVHD and a DLI1 containing a higher dose of regulatory T cells was not protective for GVHD. We studied several transplant clinical variables and did not find any association with GVHD. Altogether, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of the cell populations in a DLI from MSDs and identifies potential key cell subsets, which provides insight for the understanding of GVHD after DLI.

Immunological and genetic kinetics from diagnosis to clinical progression in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Mechanisms driving the progression of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) from its early stages are not fully understood. The acquisition of molecular changes at the time of progression has been observed in a small fraction of patients, suggesting that CLL progression is not mainly driven by dynamic clonal evolution. In order to shed light on mechanisms that lead to CLL progression, we investigated longitudinal changes in both the genetic and immunological scenarios. METHODS: We performed genetic and immunological longitudinal analysis using paired primary samples from untreated CLL patients that underwent clinical progression (sampling at diagnosis and progression) and from patients with stable disease (sampling at diagnosis and at long-term asymptomatic follow-up). RESULTS: Molecular analysis showed limited and non-recurrent molecular changes at progression, indicating that clonal evolution is not the main driver of clinical progression. Our analysis of the immune kinetics found an increasingly dysfunctional CD8+ T cell compartment in progressing patients that was not observed in those patients that remained asymptomatic. Specifically, terminally exhausted effector CD8+ T cells (T-betdim/-EomeshiPD1hi) accumulated, while the the co-expression of inhibitory receptors (PD1, CD244 and CD160) increased, along with an altered gene expression profile in T cells only in those patients that progressed. In addition, malignant cells from patients at clinical progression showed enhanced capacity to induce exhaustion-related markers in CD8+ T cells ex vivo mainly through a mechanism dependent on soluble factors including IL-10. CONCLUSIONS: Altogether, we demonstrate that the interaction with the immune microenvironment plays a key role in clinical progression in CLL, thereby providing a rationale for the use of early immunotherapeutic intervention.

Cell-derived microparticles and vascular pregnancy complications: a systematic and comprehensive review.

OBJECTIVE: To assess current studies on the relationship between cell-derived microparticles (cMP) and recurrent miscarriages (RM) and pre-eclampsia (PE), and review the relationships between cMP and inflammatory and clot pathways, antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL), cytokines, and pregnancy complications. DESIGN: Systematic and comprehensive review of the literature from January 2000 to January 2012. SETTING: Vall d'Hebron University Hospital. PATIENT(S): Women with recurrent miscarriages or PE, healthy nonpregnant women, and healthy pregnant women. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Comparison of cMP numbers and types among groups. RESULT(S): Platelet and endothelial cMP are increased in women with normal pregnancies compared with nonpregnant healthy women. Only five case-control studies regarding cMP and RM and 16 on cMP and PE were found to match our objective. Three of five articles referring to RM showed differences in cMP numbering, and 13 of 16 on cMP and PE showed differences in some type of cMP compared with controls. CONCLUSION(S): Cell-derived microparticles were raised in normal pregnancy. Recurrent miscarriage seems to be related to endothelial and platelet cell activation and/or consumption. An increase in almost all cMP types was observed in PE. A relationship between cMP and endothelial activation and proinflammatory status seems to exist.

Circulating cell-derived microparticles in severe preeclampsia and in fetal growth restriction.

PROBLEM: The behavior of the circulating microparticles (cMP) in severe preeclampsia (PE) and fetal growth restriction (FGR) is disputed. METHOD OF STUDY Non-matched case-control study. Seventy cases of severe PE/HELLP/FGR were compared to 38 healthy pregnant women. Twenty healthy non-pregnant women acted as a control. cMP were analyzed using flow cytometry. Results are given as total (annexin-A5-ANXA5+), platelet (CD41+), leukocyte (CD45+), endothelial (CD144+CD31+//CD41-), and CD41-negative cMP/µL of plasma. Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) were analyzed through usual methods. RESULTS: Platelet and endothelial cMP increased in healthy pregnant women. PE whole group (PE±FGR) showed an increase in endothelial and CD41-negative, but not in platelet-derived, cMP. Comparing PE whole group versus healthy pregnant, we found cMP levels of endothelial and CD41- had increased. The cMP results obtained in PE group were similar to those of the PE whole group. Comparing PE group to isolated FGR, significant CD41-negative cMP increase was found in PE. According to its aPL positivity, a trend to decrease in leukocyte and endothelial-derived cMP was found in PE group. CONCLUSION: Normal pregnancy is accompanied by endothelial and platelet cell activation. Endothelial cell activation has been shown in PE but not in isolated FGR. In PE, aPL may contribute to endothelial and possibly to leukocyte cell activation.

Circulating cell-derived microparticles in women with pregnancy loss.

PROBLEM: To analyze cell-derived microparticles (cMP) in pregnancy loss (PL), both recurrent miscarriages (RM) and unexplained fetal loss (UFL). METHOD OF STUDY: Non-matched case-control study was performed at Vall d'Hebron Hospital. Cell-derived microparticles of 53 PL cases, 30 with RM, 16 with UFL, and 7 (RM + UFL), were compared to 38 healthy pregnant women. Twenty healthy non-pregnant women act as controls. Cell-derived microparticles were analyzed through flow cytometry. Results are given as total annexin (A5+), endothelial-(CD144+/CD31+ CD41-), platelet-(CD41+), leukocyte-(CD45+) and CD41- c-MP/µL of plasma. Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLA) were analyzed according to established methods. RESULTS: Comparing PL versus healthy pregnant, we observed a significant endothelial cMP decrease in PL. When comparing RM subgroup with controls, we observed significant decreases in endothelial cMP. When comparing the PL positive for aPLA versus PL-aPLA-negative, no cMP numbering differences were seen. CONCLUSION: Pregnancy loss seems to be related to endothelial cell activation and/or consumption. A relationship between aPLA and cMP could not be demonstrated.

Circulating microparticles, lupus anticoagulant and recurrent miscarriages.

Pregnancy is a pro-inflammatory/hypercoagulable state. Impairment of trophoblastic invasion and placental microthrombi are involved mechanisms in the pathogenesis of recurrent miscarriages (RM). Although in RM related to antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) non-thrombotic mechanism seems to play an important role as well, we focused this review on the thrombotic mechanisms of RM related to aPL. Thus, in cases of RM related to aPL, placental injury produces inflammatory changes in endothelial cells. Endothelial dysfunction has been shown by increased plasma levels of ICAM-1/VCAM-1 and E-selectin. In RM associated with aPL, the thrombogenic mechanisms included different pathways: protein C inhibition, annexin-5 displacement, blocking of beta(2)GP1 anticoagulant activity and tissue factor upregulation. A new marker/causative agent of RM by itself or in relation to lupus anticoagulant (LA) has risen: circulating microparticles. Microparticles are a heterogeneous group of small, membrane-coated vesicles with a diameter of 0.1-1 microm. Microparticles are released from the cellular membrane during cell activation/apoptosis. Exposition of phospholipids in the outer membrane leaflet could explain the role of microparticles in the thrombotic events. Microparticles have been associated with RM. Microparticles are increased in women with RM when compared with healthy pregnant women. A relationship between aPL and activated endothelial cells (EC) occurs, as well as between EC and circulating microparticles. Interestingly, microparticles induced coagulation in vitro via tissue factor, especially in plasmas with LA. Finally, the relationship between EC, microparticles, LA and RM is revised.