PP4 phosphatase cooperates in recombinational DNA repair by enhancing double-strand break end resection.

The role of Rad53 in response to a DNA lesion is central for the accurate orchestration of the DNA damage response. Rad53 activation relies on its phosphorylation by Mec1 and its own autophosphorylation in a manner dependent on the adaptor Rad9. While the mechanism behind Rad53 activation has been well documented, less is known about the processes that counteract its activity along the repair of a DNA adduct. Here, we describe that PP4 phosphatase is required to avoid Rad53 hyper-phosphorylation during the repair of a double-strand break, a process that impacts on the phosphorylation status of multiple factors involved in the DNA damage response. PP4-dependent Rad53 dephosphorylation stimulates DNA end resection by relieving the negative effect that Rad9 exerts over the Sgs1/Dna2 exonuclease complex. Consequently, elimination of PP4 activity affects resection and repair by single-strand annealing, defects that are bypassed by reducing Rad53 hyperphosphorylation. These results confirm that Rad53 phosphorylation is controlled by PP4 during the repair of a DNA lesion and demonstrate that the attenuation of its kinase activity during the initial steps of the repair process is essential to efficiently enhance recombinational DNA repair pathways that depend on long-range resection for their success.

Canine laparoscopic ovariectomy using two 3- and 5-mm portal sites: A prospective randomized clinical trial.

Laparoscopic ovariectomy (LapOve) was performed in 3 groups (2.7-mm/5-mm, 5-mm/3-mm, and 5-mm telescope/5-mm bipolar forceps) of small dogs (n = 60). Surgical times, bleeding rates, complications, and laparoscopic visualization were recorded and compared among groups. Use of the 3-mm bipolar forceps significantly increased the surgical time and showed higher bleeding rates compared with the 5-mm bipolar forceps. The 2.7-mm telescope significantly decreased the laparoscopic view. No complications were seen in any group. In conclusion, the 2.7-mm 30° telescope or the 3-mm bipolar forceps combined with the 5-mm instruments could be used as an alternative technique for LapOve in dogs up to 10 kg. The 2.7-mm telescope with the 5-mm bipolar forceps was the most efficient combination based on surgical time.

Ovariectomie laparascopique canine en utilisant deux sites d'accès de 3 et de 5 mm : un essai clinique randomisé prospectif. Une ovarioectomie laparoscopique (LapOve) a été réalisée dans 3 groupes (forceps bipolaires 2,7-mm/télescope 5-mm, 5-mm/3-mm et 5-mm/5-mm) de petits chiens (n = 60). La durée de la chirurgie, les taux de saignement, les complications et la visualisation laparoscopique ont été consignés et comparés entre les groupes. L'usage des forceps bipolaires de 3 mm a augmenté significativement la durée de la chirurgie et a affiché des taux de saignement supérieurs comparativement aux forceps bipolaires de 5 mm. Le télescope de 2,7 mm a significativement réduit la vue laparascopique. Des complications n'ont pas été observées dans aucun groupe. En conclusion, le télescope 30° de 2,7 mm ou les forceps bipolaires de 3 mm combinés aux instruments de 5 mm pourraient être utilisés comme technique de remplacement pour la LapOve chez les chiens pesant jusqu'à 10 kg. Le télescope de 2,7 mm avec le forceps bipolaire de 5 mm était la combinaison la plus efficace basée sur la durée de la chirurgie.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).

Immunomagnetic T Cell Depletion: an Analysis of Variables Affecting Final Cell Yield.

BACKGROUND: Only little detailed information has been published by a small number of centers on experiences with the technical aspects of "in vitro" large-scale graft manipulation technologies. METHODS: We report our experiences with the graft engineering procedures performed and the results obtained after T cell depletion. We have analyzed data from 212 procedures (108 CD34+ cell selection and 104 CD3+/CD19+ cell depletion). RESULTS: We conclude that the final cell products after selection or depletion were completely different with regard to CD34+ cell purity (95.8% vs. 1.52%). The CD34+ cell recovery after CD34+ cell selection is negatively affected when the initial leukocyte and/or CD34+ cell counts exceed the threshold defined by the manufacturer (68.9% vs. 45.2%, p < 0.01). However, the cell count threshold defined for the depletion technique could be exceeded without seriously affecting final results (86.1% vs. 86.4% for those with more or less than 40 x 109 leukocyte before the procedure; p = 0.7). Another important conclusion from this study is that in both CD34+ cell selection and CD3+/CD19+ cell depletion better results were reached after having gained experience by performing the procedures several times. This means that a learning process can be expected when using these in vitro graft manipulation procedures. CONCLUSIONS: It is extremely important to have experienced staff to perform these procedures. The expected results are different with each procedure so the decision on which of these T cell depletion approaches are used should be based on the characteristics of the final product wanted.

Validation of a realistic simulator for veterinary gastrointestinal endoscopy training.

This article reports on the face, content, and construct validity of a new realistic composite simulator (Simuldog) used to provide training in canine gastrointestinal flexible endoscopy. The basic endoscopic procedures performed on the simulator were esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), gastric biopsy (GB), and gastric foreign body removal (FBR). Construct validity was assessed by comparing the performance of novices (final-year veterinary students and recent graduates without endoscopic experience, n=30) versus experienced subjects (doctors in veterinary medicine who had performed more than 50 clinical upper gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures as a surgeon, n=15). Tasks were scored based on completion time, and specific rating scales were developed to assess performance. Internal consistency and inter-rater agreement were assessed. Face and content validity were determined using a 5-point Likert-type scale questionnaire. The novices needed considerably more time than the experts to perform EGD, GB, and FBR, and their performance scores were significantly lower (p<.010). Inter-rater agreement and the internal validity of the rating scales were good. Face validity was excellent, and both groups agreed that the endoscopy scenarios were very realistic. The experts highly valued the usefulness of Simuldog for veterinary training and as a tool for assessing endoscopic skills. Simuldog is the first validated model specifically developed to be used as a training tool for endoscopy techniques in small animals.

Oxidative stress in dogs with chronic inflammatory enteropathy treated with allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells.

The search for new biomarkers in patients with chronic inflammatory enteropathy (CIE) is ongoing in the human and veterinary medicine fields. Oxidative stress biomarkers (malondialdehyde [MDA], reduced glutathione [GSH], and albumin) have been studied in humans with chronic enteropathies, but among them, only albumin has been studied in dogs with CIE. Moreover, the effect of mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs) treatment with or without prednisone on these parameters has never been studied in dogs with CIE. These parameters were compared between healthy dogs (n = 12) and dogs with CIE, and before and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after the treatment with MSCs alone (n = 9) or together with prednisone (n = 11). The relationship between the Canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease Activity Index (CIBDAI) and oxidative stress was evaluated. Albumin was the only parameter that significantly differed between dogs with CIE and healthy dogs (p = 0,037). Differences were observed only in albumin values after combined treatment with MSCs and prednisone. No differences were observed in MDA and GSH after treatment with MSCs with or without prednisone. Albumin could help stage canine CIE, as well as its prognosis, as has already been demonstrated, although it is essential to evaluate this parameter for its antioxidant capacity, and therefore it could be a good biomarker of oxidative stress in this pathology. However, the treatment with MSCs seems unable to modify any of the analyzed oxidative stress parameters.

The impact of the transversus abdominis plane block (TAP) on stress response measured through the complete blood- derived inflammatory markers.

This study aims to evaluate the effect of the transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block on the blood cells and the inflammatory markers neutrophil- to- lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet- to- lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and systemic immune- inflammation index (SII) after the laparoscopic ovariectomy (LapOV) in dogs. 72 healthy bitches undergoing LapOV were randomly allocated to the no- TAP group of dogs under inhaled anesthesia (IA), the TAP- S group (IA and TAP with saline), and the TAP- B group (IA and TAP with bupivacaine). The NLR, PLR, and SII were calculated 1 h before ovariectomy (T0) and at 2-3 h (T1), 6-8 h (T2), and 20-24 h (T3) post- surgery. The number of dogs requiring postoperative analgesic rescue with buprenorphine and the doses administered in each group were recorded. Significant changes were observed in all groups' postoperative NLR, PLR, and SII over time. Between groups, no differences were observed in any of the ratios at any control point (NLR at T0-T3: p = 0.17, 0.36, 0.80, and 0.95; PLR at T0-T3: p = 0.70, 0.62, 0.21, 0.87; SII at T0-T3: p = 0.29, 0.65, 0.09, and 0.34). A significantly lower number of dogs required analgesic rescue in the TAP-B group (p = 0.0001) and a lower number of doses were administered (p = 0.001). There is no difference in the inflammatory response measured through the complete blood- derived inflammatory markers after the LapOV in dogs when the postoperative pain is managed entirely with opioids or with the TAP block with bupivacaine. The hydrodissection associated with the TAP block technique does not increase the inflammatory response.

The role of distinct ECoG frequency features in decoding finger movement.

Objective.To identify the electrocorticography (ECoG) frequency features that encode distinct finger movement states during repeated finger flexions.Approach.We used the publicly available Stanford ECoG dataset of cue-based, repeated single finger flexions. Using linear regression, we identified the spectral features that contributed most to the encoding of movement dynamics and discriminating movement events from rest, and combined them to predict finger movement trajectories. Furthermore, we also looked into the effect of the used frequency range and the spatial distribution of the identified features.Main results.Two frequency features generate superior performance, each one for a different movement aspect: high gamma band activity distinguishes movement events from rest, whereas the local motor potential (LMP) codes for movement dynamics. Combining these two features in a finger movement decoder outperformed comparable prior work where the entire spectrum was used as the average correlation coefficient with the true trajectories increased from 0.45 to 0.5, both applied to the Stanford dataset, and erroneous predictions during rest were demoted. In addition, for the first time, our results show the influence of the upper cut-off frequency used to extract LMP, yielding a higher performance when this range is adjusted to the finger movement rate.Significance.This study shows the benefit of a detailed feature analysis prior to designing the finger movement decoder.

Cdc14 phosphatase counteracts Cdk-dependent Dna2 phosphorylation to inhibit resection during recombinational DNA repair.

Cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) stimulates resection of DNA double-strand breaks ends to generate single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) needed for recombinational DNA repair. Here we show in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that lack of the Cdk-counteracting phosphatase Cdc14 produces abnormally extended resected tracts at the DNA break ends, involving the phosphatase in the inhibition of resection. Over-resection in the absence of Cdc14 activity is bypassed when the exonuclease Dna2 is inactivated or when its Cdk consensus sites are mutated, indicating that the phosphatase restrains resection by acting through this nuclease. Accordingly, mitotically activated Cdc14 promotes Dna2 dephosphorylation to exclude it from the DNA lesion. Cdc14-dependent resection inhibition is essential to sustain DNA re-synthesis, thus ensuring the appropriate length, frequency, and distribution of the gene conversion tracts. These results establish a role for Cdc14 in controlling the extent of resection through Dna2 regulation and demonstrate that the accumulation of excessively long ssDNA affects the accurate repair of the broken DNA by homologous recombination.

Using complete blood count-derived inflammatory markers to compare postoperative inflammation in dogs undergoing open or laparoscopic ovariectomy.

BACKGROUND: The inflammatory response triggered in dogs after laparoscopic ovariectomy (LapOV) or ovariectomy through mini-celiotomy (COV) has never been compared using the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and systemic inflammatory index (SII). METHODS: Bitches underwent LapOV (n = 25) or COV (n = 25). NLR, PLR and SII were calculated 1 hour before ovariectomy (T0) and 2-3, 6-8 and 20-24 hours (T1-T3) after surgery. RESULTS: Surgical time was longer in the LapOV group. Changes over time were observed in the NLR, PLR and SII in both groups (p < 0.001). PLR at baseline and T1 (p = 0.03 and 0.01) and NLR, PLR and SII at T2 (p = 0.01, 0.01 and 0.009) were higher in the LapOV group than in the COV group, but they did not differ at T3. LIMITATIONS: The overrepresentation of Greyhounds in the LapOV group and the short-term follow-up are the study's main limitations. CONCLUSION: Although an inflammatory peak was observed 6-8 hours after COV or LapOV, it was higher after the laparoscopy. However, there was no difference in the bitches' inflammatory status 24 hours after surgery.

Urinary cystatin C and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) as early biomarkers for renal disease in dogs with leishmaniosis.

Canine leishmaniasis (CanL) is a disease caused by Leishmania infantum that can vary from a subclinical infection to a severe disease. Dogs affected with CanL present varying degrees of renal dysfunction. Unfortunately, traditional biomarkers such as urea and creatinine detect renal damage in advanced stages of the disease, so more accurate biomarkers are needed. Hence, we aimed to study how urinary cystatin C (CysC) and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), behave in dogs with CanL at different stages of the disease. Eighty-six CanL infected dogs were classified according to LeishVet stages: LI (16 dogs), LIIa (12 dogs), LIIb (12 dogs), LIII (16 dogs) and LIV (30 dogs); as a control, 17 healthy dogs were studied. Blood samples were collected for complete haematological and biochemistry analysis including plasma cystatin C. Urine analysis included urine specific gravity (USG), urine protein to creatinine ratio (UPC), CysC and NAG expressed as a ratio with creatinine uCysCc (µg/g) and uNAGc (IU/g). The haematological, biochemical and urinary analysis coincided with the LeishVet guidelines. The statistical study of the uCysCc ratio and the uNAGc, showed significant increase when compared against control starting from group LI (p < 0.05). Interestingly, when the cut-off values were calculated using the ROC curve, uCysCc (258.85 µg/g) and uNAGc (2.25 IU/g) 75 % of the dogs included in LI groups surpassed the threshold. Hence our study indicates that uCysCc and uNAGc, could help to detect early renal damage in CanL affected dogs.

Proteomic research on new urinary biomarkers of renal disease in canine leishmaniosis: Survival and monitoring response to treatment.

The objective of our study was to search for survival biomarkers (SB) and treatment response monitoring biomarkers (TRMB) in the urinary proteome of dogs with renal disease secondary to canine leishmaniosis (CanL), using UHPLC-MS/MS. The proteomic data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD042578. Initially, a group of 12 dogs was evaluated and divided into survivors (SG; n = 6) and nonsurvivors (NSG; n = 6). A total of 972 proteins were obtained from the evaluated samples. Then, bioinformatic analysis reduced them to 6 proteins like potential SB increased in the NSG, specifically, Haemoglobin subunit Alpha 1, Complement Factor I, Complement C5, Fibrinogen beta chain (fragment), Peptidase S1 domain-containing protein, and Fibrinogen gamma chain. Afterwards, SG was used to search for TRMB, studying their urine at 0, 30, and 90 days, and 9 proteins that decreased after treatment were obtained: Apolipoprotein E, Cathepsin B, Cystatin B, Cystatin-C-like, Lysozyme, Monocyte differentiation CD14, Pancreatitis-associated precursor protein, Profilin, and Protein FAM3C. Finally, enrichment analysis provided information about the biological mechanisms in which these proteins are involved. In conclusion, this study provides 15 new candidate urinary biomarkers and an improved understanding of the pathogenesis of kidney disease in CanL.

Determination of chemical oxygen demand in heterogeneous solid or semisolid samples using a novel method combining solid dilutions as a preparation step followed by optimized closed reflux and colorimetric measurement.

This paper reports the development of an innovative sample preparation method for the determination of the chemical oxygen demand (COD) in heterogeneous solid or semisolid samples, with high suspended solids and COD concentrations, using an optimized closed reflux colorimetric method. The novel method, named solid dilution (SD), is based on a different technique of sample preparation, diluting the sample with magnesium sulfate (MgSO(4)) previous to COD determination. With this, it is possible to obtain a solid homogeneous mixture much more easily analyzable. Besides, a modification of concentration and ratio of reagents was optimized to make the closed reflux colorimetric method suitable for complex substrates with COD levels ranging from 5 to 2500 g O(2) kg(-1) TS. The optimized method has been tested with potassium hydrogen phthalate (KHP) as primary solid standard and using different solid or semiliquid substrates like pig slaughterhouse waste and sewage sludge, among others. Finally, the optimized method (SD/SM-CRC) was intensively tested in comparison to the standard titrimetric method (SM-ORT) using different certified reference materials (CRM). The developed method was found to give higher accuracy, 1.4% relative standard deviation (RSD) vs 10.4%, and bias of 2.8% vs 8.0%, in comparison to the standard open reflux titrimetric method.

Relationship between serum cobalamin concentration and endoscopic ileal appearance and histology in dogs with chronic inflammatory enteropathy.

BACKGROUND: It has not been determined whether ileal appearance differs among dogs with chronic inflammatory enteropathy (CIE) and different serum concentrations of cobalamin. OBJECTIVE: To compare endoscopic and histologic ileal findings in dogs with CIE and different serum cobalamin concentrations and then evaluate the correlation of ileal changes to cobalamin serum concentration using updated scoring systems to assess the ileum. ANIMALS: Sixty-eight dogs with CIE. METHODS: Retrospective study. Frequency of ileal features and ileal histologic and endoscopic scores (IHS and IES) were obtained and compared among CIE dogs with severe hypocobalaminemia (SHC; <200 ng/L), hypocobalaminemia (HC; 200-350 ng/L), or normocobalaminemia (NC; >350 ng/L). The correlation of IHS and IES with cobalamin was evaluated. RESULTS: Friability, villus atrophy, crypt dilatation, epithelial injury, and intraepithelial lymphocytes were more frequent in SHC than in NC dogs (all P ≤ .01). Median SHC-IES (2; range, 0-4) was higher than NC-IES (1; range, 0-5; P = .004). Median SHC-IHS (6; range, 3-9) was higher than HC-IHS (4; range, 1-7; P < .001) and NC-IHS (3; range, 1-8; P < .001). Cobalamin concentration correlated negatively with IES (ρ = -.34, P = .005) and IHS (ρ = -.58, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Ileal features and involvement degree markedly differed when cobalamin was <200 or >350 ng/L in CIE dogs. With updated scales to assess the mucosa, greater ileal damage was associated with lower serum cobalamin concentration.

Evaluation of the Two-Point Ultrasound-Guided Transversus Abdominis Plane Block for Laparoscopic Canine Ovariectomy.

The transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block causes desensitization of the abdominal wall and peritoneum. Of all the approaches proposed to perform it, the two-injection-point TAP showed the best results in terms of the area reached by the anesthetic solution. However, to date, no clinical data exist. The aim of this study was to evaluate the intra- and postoperative analgesic efficacy of a two-injection-point TAP block in dogs undergoing laparoscopic ovariectomy. A total of 26 animals were assigned to receive general inhalation anesthesia (control group), and 26 dogs were assigned to general inhalation anesthesia combined with TAP block (TAP group). The ultrasound-guided TAP block was carried out with a subcostal and cranial-to-ilium injection per hemiabdomen. The end-tidal concentration of isoflurane (EtISO) was recorded at different moments during the surgery. Postoperative pain was assessed at different time points during the first 24 h after surgery. The control group required significantly higher EtISO concentration during the ovarian resection and showed higher postoperative pain scores than the TAP group. Fewer dogs in the TAP group required intra- or postoperative rescue analgesia. TAP block can be implemented to improve postoperative pain management after laparoscopy, reducing the dosage of the systemic drugs used and, hence, their possible side effects.

Complete Blood Count-Derived Inflammatory Markers Changes in Dogs with Chronic Inflammatory Enteropathy Treated with Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (Ad-MSCs) exhibit anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) have been reported as novel biomarkers of the inflammatory state; however, they have never been examined in dogs with chronic inflammatory enteropathy (CIE) treated with Ad-MSCs. This study aimed to compare the clinical evolution and the changes in the NLR, PLR, and SII in dogs with CIE before and after cell therapy. Sixteen dogs with CIE were administered a single intravenous dose of Ad-MSCs. The canine chronic enteropathy clinical activity index (CCECAI), NLR, PLR, and SII were assessed before treatment (T0) and at 2 (T2) and 9 (T9) months post-treatment and compared over time and with the reference values obtained from a group of healthy dogs. NLR, PLR, and SII were significantly increased at T0 compared to the reference values, decreasing significantly over time. At T9, the NLR and SII did not differ from the reference values, but PLR remained above the reference values. A correlation was observed between CCECAI and the three markers. These findings show that the clinical improvement of dogs with CIE treated with Ad-MSCs is accompanied by a normalization of the inflammatory status.

Urinary proteome of dogs with renal disease secondary to leishmaniosis.

Canine leishmaniosis is frequently associated with the development of renal disease. Its pathogenesis is complex and not fully understood. For this reason, this study aimed to describe the urinary proteome, and identify possible new biomarkers in dogs with kidney disease secondary to leishmaniosis. Urine samples were collected from 20 dogs, 5 from healthy dogs, and 15 from stages Leishvet III and IV. Urine samples were analyzed by UHPLC-MS/MS. The data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD029165. A total of 951 proteins were obtained. After bioinformatic analysis, 93 urinary proteins were altered in the study group. Enrichment analysis performed on these proteins showed an overrepresentation of the complement activation pathway, among others. Finally, 12 discriminant variables were found in dogs with renal disease secondary to leishmaniosis, highlighting C4a anaphylatoxin, apolipoprotein A-I, haptoglobin, leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein 1, and beta-2-microglobulin. This study is the first to describe the urinary proteomics of dogs with renal disease caused by leishmaniosis, and it provides new possible biomarkers for the diagnosis and monitoring of this disease.

[Effect of pharmacist involvement in adherence to medications in patients with high to moderate cardiovascular risk (Study EMDADER-CV-INCUMPLIMIENTO)]. / Efecto de la actuación farmacéutica en la adherencia del tratamiento farmacológico de pacientes ambulatorios con riesgo cardiovascular (Estudio EMDADER-CV-INCUMPLIMIENTO).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of pharmacist involvement, by means of Pharmacotherapy Follow-Up (PFU) in the improvement of medication adherence and therapeutic outcomes. DESIGN: An experimental, controlled, and randomised clinical study comparing a PFU program with the routine process in Spanish community pharmacies improved with health education during 8 months. SETTING: Nine Spanish community pharmacies. PARTICIPANTS: Patients between 25 and 74 years with a moderate-high cardiovascular risk (CVR), who arrived with a prescription, in their name, for drugs for at least one CVR factor. INTERVENTIONS: The patients were randomly assigned to the intervention group (IG), and received PFU and health education, or the control group (CG), who received health education only. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Adherence to treatment, and blood pressure (BP) and total cholesterol (TC) levels at the beginning and end of the study. RESULTS: Of the 87 patients enrolled, 85 finished the study: 41 from the CG and 44 from the IG. Both groups increased adherence at the end of the [CG: 26.9%; 95% CI: 12.7- 41; IG: 27.3%; 95% CI: 13.6 - 41]. Although the IG showed better results in the variation of BP and TC levels, the differences compared to the CG were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: PFU and health education improves adherence to treatment. To be a patient who completes the study is also associated with improvement in the blood pressure and blood pressure/total cholesterol objectives.

Effects of Allogeneic Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation in Dogs with Inflammatory Bowel Disease Treated with and without Corticosteroids.

Mesenchymal stem cells have proven to be a promising alternative to conventional steroids to treat canine inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, their administration requires a washout period of immunosuppressive drugs that can lead to an exacerbation of the symptoms. Therefore, the feasibility and effects of the combined application of stem cells and prednisone in IBD-dogs without adequate response to corticosteroids was evaluated for the first time in this study over a long- term follow up. Two groups of dogs with IBD, one without treatment and another with prednisone treatment, received a single infusion of stem cells. The clinical indices, albumin and cobalamin were determined prior to the infusion and after one, three, six and 12 months. In both groups, all parameters significantly improved at each time point. In parallel, the steroid dosage was gradually reduced until it was suppressed in all patients a year after the cell therapy. Therefore, cell therapy can significantly and safely improve the disease condition in dogs with IBD receiving or not receiving prednisone. Furthermore, the steroid dosage can be significantly reduced or cancelled after the stem cell infusion. Their beneficial effects are stable over time and are long lasting.

Improved collection of hematopoietic stem cells and progenitors from Fanconi anemia patients for gene therapy purposes.

Difficulties in the collection of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) from Fanconi anemia (FA) patients have limited the gene therapy in this disease. We have investigated (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02931071) the safety and efficacy of filgrastim and plerixafor for mobilization of HSPCs and collection by leukapheresis in FA patients. Nine of eleven enrolled patients mobilized beyond the threshold level of 5 CD34+ cells/µL required to initiate apheresis. A median of 21.8 CD34+ cells/µL was reached at the peak of mobilization. Significantly, the oldest patients (15 and 16 years old) were the only ones who did not reach that threshold. A median of 4.27 million CD34+ cells/kg was collected in 2 or 3 aphereses. These numbers were markedly decreased to 1.1 million CD34+ cells/kg after immunoselection, probably because of weak expression of the CD34 antigen. However, these numbers were sufficient to facilitate the engraftment of corrected HSPCs in non-conditioned patients. No procedure-associated serious adverse events were observed. Mobilization of CD34+ cells correlated with younger age, higher leukocyte counts and hemoglobin values, lower mean corpuscular volume, and higher proportion of CD34+ cells in bone marrow (BM). All these values offer crucial information for the enrollment of FA patients for gene therapy protocols.