Prolonged activation of nasal immune cell populations and development of tissue-resident SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T cell responses following COVID-19.

Systemic immune cell dynamics during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are extensively documented, but these are less well studied in the (upper) respiratory tract, where severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) replicates1-6. Here, we characterized nasal and systemic immune cells in individuals with COVID-19 who were hospitalized or convalescent and compared the immune cells to those seen in healthy donors. We observed increased nasal granulocytes, monocytes, CD11c+ natural killer (NK) cells and CD4+ T effector cells during acute COVID-19. The mucosal proinflammatory populations positively associated with peripheral blood human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRlow monocytes, CD38+PD1+CD4+ T effector (Teff) cells and plasmablasts. However, there was no general lymphopenia in nasal mucosa, unlike in peripheral blood. Moreover, nasal neutrophils negatively associated with oxygen saturation levels in blood. Following convalescence, nasal immune cells mostly normalized, except for CD127+ granulocytes and CD38+CD8+ tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM). SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T cells persisted at least 2 months after viral clearance in the nasal mucosa, indicating that COVID-19 has both transient and long-term effects on upper respiratory tract immune responses.

Age-Dependent Normalization Functions for T Lymphocytes in Healthy Individuals.

Lymphocyte numbers naturally change through age. Normalization functions to account for this are sparse and mostly disregard measurements from children in which these changes are most prominent. In this study, we analyze cross-sectional numbers of mainly T lymphocytes (CD3+, CD3+CD4+, and CD3+CD8+) and their subpopulations (naive and memory) from 673 healthy Dutch individuals ranging from infancy to adulthood (0-62 y). We fitted the data by a delayed exponential function and estimated parameters for each lymphocyte subset. Our modeling approach follows general laboratory measurement procedures in which absolute cell counts of T lymphocyte subsets are calculated from observed percentages within a reference population that is truly counted (typically the total lymphocyte count). Consequently, we obtain one set of parameter estimates per T cell subset representing both the trajectories of their counts and percentages. We allow for an initial time delay of half a year before the total lymphocyte counts per microliter of blood start to change exponentially, and we find that T lymphocyte trajectories tend to increase during the first half a year of life. Thus, our study provides functions describing the general trajectories of T lymphocyte counts and percentages of the Dutch population. These functions provide important references to study T lymphocyte dynamics in disease, and they allow one to quantify losses and gains in longitudinal data, such as the CD4+ T cell decline in HIV-infected children and/or the rate of T cell recovery after the onset of treatment.

Disruption of memory B-cell trafficking by belimumab in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVES: Autoreactive memory B cells contribute to chronic and progressive courses in autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The efficacy of belimumab (BEL), the first approved biologic treatment for SLE and lupus nephritis (LN), is generally attributed to depletion of activated naïve B cells and inhibition of B cell activation. BEL's effect on memory B cells (MBCs) is currently unexplained. We performed an in-depth cellular and transcriptomic analysis of BEL's impact on the blood MBC compartment in patients with SLE. METHODS: A retrospective meta-analysis was conducted, pooling flow cytometry data from four randomized trials involving 1245 patients with SLE treated with intravenous BEL or placebo. Then, extensive MBC phenotyping was performed using high-sensitivity flow cytometry in patients with mild/moderate SLE and severe SLE/LN treated with subcutaneous BEL. Finally, transcriptomic characterization of surging MBCs was performed by single-cell RNA sequencing. RESULTS: In BEL-treated patients, a significant increase in circulating MBCs, in a broad range of MBC subsets, was established at week 2, gradually returning to baseline by week 52. The increase was most prominent in patients with higher SLE disease activity, serologically active patients, and patients aged ≤18 years. MBCs had a non-proliferating phenotype with a prominent decrease in activation status and downregulation of numerous migration genes. CONCLUSION: Upon BEL initiation, an increase of MBCs was firmly established. In the small cohort investigated, circulating MBCs were de-activated, non-proliferative, and demonstrated characteristics of disrupted lymphocyte trafficking, expanding on our understanding of the therapeutic mechanism of B cell-activating factor inhibition by BEL. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00071487, NCT00410384, NCT01632241, NCT01649765, NCT03312907, NCT03747159.

Phenotypic profiling of CD34+ cells by advanced flow cytometry improves diagnosis of juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia.

Diagnostic criteria for juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) are currently well defined, however in some patients diagnosis still remains a challenge. Flow cytometry is a well established tool for diagnosis and follow-up of hematological malignancies, nevertheless it is not routinely used for JMML diagnosis. Herewith, we characterized the CD34+ hematopoietic precursor cells collected from 31 children with JMML using a combination of standardized EuroFlow antibody panels to assess the ability to discriminate JMML cells from normal/reactive bone marrow cell as controls (n=29) or from cells of children with other hematological diseases mimicking JMML (n=9). CD34+ precursors in JMML showed markedly reduced B-cell and erythroid-committed precursors compared to controls, whereas monocytic and CD7+ lymphoid precursors were significantly expanded. Moreover, aberrant immunophenotypes were consistently present in CD34+ precursors in JMML, while they were virtually absent in controls. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that combined assessment of the number of CD34+CD7+ lymphoid precursors and CD34+ aberrant precursors or erythroid precursors had a great potential in discriminating JMMLs versus controls. Importantly our scoring model allowed highly efficient discrimination of truly JMML versus patients with JMML-like diseases. In conclusion, we show for the first time that CD34+ precursors from JMML patients display a unique immunophenotypic profile which might contribute to a fast and accurate diagnosis of JMML worldwide by applying an easy to standardize single eight-color antibody combination.

Autoantibody subclass predominance is not driven by aberrant class switching or impaired B cell development.

A subset of autoimmune diseases is characterized by predominant pathogenic IgG4 autoantibodies (IgG4-AID). Why IgG4 predominates in these disorders is unknown. We hypothesized that dysregulated B cell maturation or aberrant class switching causes overrepresentation of IgG4+ B cells and plasma cells. Therefore, we compared the B cell compartment of patients from four different IgG4-AID with two IgG1-3-AID and healthy donors, using flow cytometry. Relative subset abundance at all maturation stages was normal, except for a, possibly treatment-related, reduction in immature and naïve CD5+ cells. IgG4+ B cell and plasma cell numbers were normal in IgG4-AID patients, however they had a (sub)class-independent 8-fold increase in circulating CD20-CD138+ cells. No autoreactivity was found in this subset. These results argue against aberrant B cell development and rather suggest the autoantibody subclass predominance to be antigen-driven. The similarities between IgG4-AID suggest that, despite displaying variable clinical phenotypes, they share a similar underlying immune profile.

Improved Sézary cell detection and novel insights into immunophenotypic and molecular heterogeneity in Sézary syndrome.

Sézary syndrome (SS) is an aggressive leukemic form of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma with neoplastic CD4+ T cells present in skin, lymph nodes, and blood. Despite advances in therapy, prognosis remains poor, with a 5-year overall survival of 30%. The immunophenotype of Sézary cells is diverse, which hampers efficient diagnosis, sensitive disease monitoring, and accurate assessment of treatment response. Comprehensive immunophenotypic profiling of Sézary cells with an in-depth analysis of maturation and functional subsets has not been performed thus far. We immunophenotypically profiled 24 patients with SS using standardized and sensitive EuroFlow-based multiparameter flow cytometry. We accurately identified and quantified Sézary cells in blood and performed an in-depth assessment of their phenotypic characteristics in comparison with their normal counterparts in the blood CD4+ T-cell compartment. We observed inter- and intrapatient heterogeneity and phenotypic changes over time. Sézary cells exhibited phenotypes corresponding with classical and nonclassical T helper subsets with different maturation phenotypes. We combined multiparameter flow cytometry analyses with fluorescence-activated cell sorting and performed RNA sequencing studies on purified subsets of malignant Sézary cells and normal CD4+ T cells of the same patients. We confirmed pure monoclonality in Sézary subsets, compared transcriptomes of phenotypically distinct Sézary subsets, and identified novel downregulated genes, most remarkably THEMIS and LAIR1, which discriminate Sézary cells from normal residual CD4+ T cells. Together, these findings further unravel the heterogeneity of Sézary cell subpopulations within and between patients. These new data will support improved blood staging and more accurate disease monitoring.

Immune cell kinetics and antibody response in COVID-19 patients with low-count monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis.

Low-count monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis (MBLlo ) has been associated with an underlying immunodeficiency and has recently emerged as a new risk factor for severe COVID-19. Here, we investigated the kinetics of immune cell and antibody responses in blood during COVID-19 of MBLlo versus non-MBL patients. For this study, we analyzed the kinetics of immune cells in blood of 336 COVID-19 patients (74 MBLlo and 262 non-MBL), who had not been vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2, over a period of 43 weeks since the onset of infection, using high-sensitivity flow cytometry. Plasma levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were measured in parallel by ELISA. Overall, early after the onset of symptoms, MBLlo COVID-19 patients showed increased neutrophil, monocyte, and particularly, plasma cell (PC) counts, whereas eosinophil, dendritic cell, basophil, and lymphocyte counts were markedly decreased in blood of a variable percentage of samples, and with a tendency toward normal levels from week +5 of infection onward. Compared with non-MBL patients, MBLlo COVID-19 patients presented higher neutrophil counts, together with decreased pre-GC B-cell, dendritic cell, and innate-like T-cell counts. Higher PC levels, together with a delayed PC peak and greater plasma levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies (at week +2 to week +4) were also observed in MBLlo patients. In summary, MBLlo COVID-19 patients share immune profiles previously described for patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection, associated with a delayed but more pronounced PC and antibody humoral response once compared with non-MBL patients.

The 3D structure of the immunoglobulin heavy-chain locus: implications for long-range genomic interactions.

The immunoglobulin heavy-chain (Igh) locus is organized into distinct regions that contain multiple variable (V(H)), diversity (D(H)), joining (J(H)) and constant (C(H)) coding elements. How the Igh locus is structured in 3D space is unknown. To probe the topography of the Igh locus, spatial distance distributions were determined between 12 genomic markers that span the entire Igh locus. Comparison of the distance distributions to computer simulations of alternative chromatin arrangements predicted that the Igh locus is organized into compartments containing clusters of loops separated by linkers. Trilateration and triple-point angle measurements indicated the mean relative 3D positions of the V(H), D(H), J(H), and C(H) elements, showed compartmentalization and striking conformational changes involving V(H) and D(H)-J(H) elements during early B cell development. In pro-B cells, the entire repertoire of V(H) regions (2 Mbp) appeared to have merged and juxtaposed to the D(H) elements, mechanistically permitting long-range genomic interactions to occur with relatively high frequency.

pmTR database: population matched (pm) germline allelic variants of T-cell receptor (TR) loci.

The IMGT database profiles the TR germline alleles for all four TR loci (TRA, TRB, TRG and TRD), however, it does not comprise of the information regarding population specificity and allelic frequencies of these germline alleles. The specificity of allelic variants to different human populations can, however, be a rich source of information when studying the genetic basis of population-specific immune responses in disease and in vaccination. Therefore, we meticulously identified true germline alleles enriched with complete TR allele sequences and their frequencies across 26 different human populations, profiled by "1000 Genomes data". We identified 205 TRAV, 249 TRBV, 16 TRGV and 5 TRDV germline alleles supported by at least four haplotypes. The diversity of germline allelic variants in the TR loci is the highest in Africans, while the majority of the Non-African alleles are specific to the Asian populations, suggesting a diverse profile of TR germline alleles in different human populations. Interestingly, the alleles in the IMGT database are frequent and common across all five super-populations. We believe that this new set of germline TR sequences represents a valuable new resource which we have made available through the new population-matched TR (pmTR) database, accessible via https://pmtrig.lumc.nl/ .

Flow cytometric minimal residual disease assessment in B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia patients treated with CD19-targeted therapies - a EuroFlow study.

The standardized EuroFlow protocol, including CD19 as primary B-cell marker, enables highly sensitive and reliable minimal residual disease (MRD) assessment in B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (BCP-ALL) patients treated with chemotherapy. We developed and validated an alternative gating strategy allowing reliable MRD analysis in BCP-ALL patients treated with CD19-targeting therapies. Concordant data were obtained in 92% of targeted therapy patients who remained CD19-positive, whereas this was 81% in patients that became (partially) CD19-negative. Nevertheless, in both groups median MRD values showed excellent correlation with the original MRD data, indicating that, despite higher interlaboratory variation, the overall MRD analysis was correct.

Population matched (pm) germline allelic variants of immunoglobulin (IG) loci: Relevance in infectious diseases and vaccination studies in human populations.

Immunoglobulin (IG) loci harbor inter-individual allelic variants in many different germline IG variable, diversity and joining genes of the IG heavy (IGH), kappa (IGK) and lambda (IGL) loci, which together form the genetic basis of the highly diverse antigen-specific B-cell receptors. These allelic variants can be shared between or be specific to human populations. The current immunogenetics resources gather the germline alleles, however, lack the population specificity of the alleles which poses limitations for disease-association studies related to immune responses in different human populations. Therefore, we systematically identified germline alleles from 26 different human populations around the world, profiled by "1000 Genomes" data. We identified 409 IGHV, 179 IGKV, and 199 IGLV germline alleles supported by at least seven haplotypes. The diversity of germline alleles is the highest in Africans. Remarkably, the variants in the identified novel alleles show strikingly conserved patterns, the same as found in other IG databases, suggesting over-time evolutionary selection processes. We could relate the genetic variants to population-specific immune responses, e.g. IGHV1-69 for flu in Africans. The population matched IG (pmIG) resource will enhance our understanding of the SHM-related B-cell receptor selection processes in (infectious) diseases and vaccination within and between different human populations.

Proteomics for Low Cell Numbers: How to Optimize the Sample Preparation Workflow for Mass Spectrometry Analysis.

Nowadays, massive genomics and transcriptomics data can be generated at the single-cell level. However, proteomics in this setting is still a big challenge. Despite the great improvements in sensitivity and performance of mass spectrometry instruments and the better knowledge on sample preparation processing, it is widely acknowledged that multistep proteomics workflows may lead to substantial sample loss, especially when working with paucicellular samples. Still, in clinical fields, frequently limited sample amounts are available for downstream analysis, thereby hampering comprehensive characterization at protein level. To aim at better protein and peptide recoveries, we compare existing and novel approaches in the multistep sample preparation protocols for mass spectrometry studies, from sample collection, cell lysis, protein quantification, and electrophoresis/staining to protein digestion, peptide recovery, and LC-MS/MS instruments. From this critical evaluation, we conclude that the recent innovations and technologies, together with high quality management of samples, make proteomics on paucicellular samples possible, which will have immediate impact for the proteomics community.

Standardised immunophenotypic analysis of myeloperoxidase in acute leukaemia.

Given its myeloid-restricted expression, myeloperoxidase (MPO) is typically used for lineage assignment (myeloid vs. lymphoid) during acute leukaemia (AL) diagnostics. In the present study, a robust flow cytometric definition for MPO positivity was established based on the standardised EuroFlow protocols, the standardised Acute Leukaemia Orientation Tube and 1734 multicentre AL cases (with confirmed assay stability). The best diagnostic performance was achieved by defining MPO positivity as ≥20% of the AL cells exceeding a lymphocyte-based threshold. The methodology employed should be applicable to any form of standardised flow cytometry.

Automated identification of leukocyte subsets improves standardization of database-guided expert-supervised diagnostic orientation in acute leukemia: a EuroFlow study.

Precise classification of acute leukemia (AL) is crucial for adequate treatment. EuroFlow has previously designed an AL orientation tube (ALOT) to guide toward the relevant classification panel and final diagnosis. In this study, we designed and validated an algorithm for automated (database-supported) gating and identification (AGI tool) of cell subsets within samples stained with ALOT. A reference database of normal peripheral blood (PB, n = 41) and bone marrow (BM; n = 45) samples analyzed with the ALOT was constructed, and served as a reference for the AGI tool to automatically identify normal cells. Populations not unequivocally identified as normal cells were labeled as checks and were classified by an expert. Additional normal BM (n = 25) and PB (n = 43) and leukemic samples (n = 109), analyzed in parallel by experts and the AGI tool, were used to evaluate the AGI tool. Analysis of normal PB and BM samples showed low percentages of checks (<3% in PB, <10% in BM), with variations between different laboratories. Manual analysis and AGI analysis of normal and leukemic samples showed high levels of correlation between cell numbers (r2 > 0.95 for all cell types in PB and r2 > 0.75 in BM) and resulted in highly concordant classification of leukemic cells by our previously published automated database-guided expert-supervised orientation tool for immunophenotypic diagnosis and classification of acute leukemia (Compass tool). Similar data were obtained using alternative, commercially available tubes, confirming the robustness of the developed tools. The AGI tool represents an innovative step in minimizing human intervention and requirements in expertise, toward a "sample-in and result-out" approach which may result in more objective and reproducible data analysis and diagnostics. The AGI tool may improve quality of immunophenotyping in individual laboratories, since high percentages of checks in normal samples are an alert on the quality of the internal procedures.

BCG Moreau Vaccine Safety Profile and NK Cells-Double Protection Against Disseminated BCG Infection in Retrospective Study of BCG Vaccination in 52 Polish Children with Severe Combined Immunodeficiency.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to estimate the rate of adverse reactions to live BCG Moreau vaccine, manufactured by Biomed in Poland, in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) patients. MATERIAL: The profiles of 52 SCID patients vaccinated at birth with BCG, hospitalized in Children's Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw (CMHI), in the years 1980-2015 were compared with those of 349 BCG-vaccinated SCID patients from other countries analyzed by Beatriz E. Marciano et al. in a retrospective study (Marciano et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2014;133(4):1134-1141). RESULTS: Significantly less disseminated BCG infections (10 out of 52 SCID, 19%) occurred in comparison with Marciano study-119 out of 349, 34% (p = 0.0028), with no death in patients treated with SCID anti-TB drug, except one in lethal condition. In our study, disseminated BCG infection was observed only in SCID with T-B+NK- phenotype and significantly lower NK cell counts (p = 0.0161). NK cells do not influence on the frequency of local BCG reaction. A significantly higher number of hematopoietic stem cells transplantations (HSCT) were performed in CMHI study (p = 0.0001). Anti-TB treatment with at least two medicines was provided. CONCLUSION: The BCG Moreau vaccine produced in Poland, with well-documented genetic characteristics, seems to be safer than other BCG substrains used in other regions of the world. Importantly, NK cells seem to play a role in protecting SCID patients against disseminated BCG complications, which NK- SCID patients are more prone to. HSCT and TB therapy could be relevant due to the patients' survival and the fact that they protect against BCG infection.

A model for predicting effect of treatment on progression-free survival using MRD as a surrogate end point in CLL.

Our objective was to evaluate minimal residual disease (MRD) at the end of induction treatment with chemoimmunotherapy as a surrogate end point for progression-free survival (PFS) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) based on 3 randomized, phase 3 clinical trials (ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers NCT00281918, NCT00769522, and NCT02053610). MRD was measured in peripheral blood (PB) from treatment-naïve patients in the CLL8, CLL10, and CLL11 clinical trials, and quantified by 4-color flow cytometry or allele-specific oligonucleotide real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. A meta-regression model was developed to predict treatment effect on PFS using treatment effect on PB-MRD. PB-MRD levels were measured in 393, 337, and 474 patients from CLL8, CLL10, and CLL11, respectively. The model demonstrated a statistically significant relationship between treatment effect on PB-MRD and treatment effect on PFS. As the difference between treatment arms in PB-MRD response rates increased, a reduction in the risk of progression or death was observed; for each unit increase in the (log) ratio of MRD- rates between arms, the log of the PFS hazard ratio decreased by -0.188 (95% confidence interval, -0.321 to -0.055; P = .008). External model validation on the REACH trial and sensitivity analyses confirm the robustness and applicability of the surrogacy model. Our surrogacy model supports use of PB-MRD as a primary end point in randomized clinical trials of chemoimmunotherapy in CLL. Additional CLL trial data are required to establish a more precise quantitative relationship between MRD and PFS, and to support general applicability of MRD surrogacy for PFS across diverse patient characteristics, treatment regimens, and different treatment mechanisms of action.

Responsiveness of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells to B-cell receptor stimulation is associated with low expression of regulatory molecules of the nuclear factor-κB pathway.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a disease with heterogeneous clinical and biological characteristics. Differences in Ca2+ levels among cases, both basal and upon B-cell receptor (BCR) stimulation, may reflect heterogeneity in the pathogenesis due to cell-intrinsic factors. Our aim was to elucidate cell-intrinsic differences between BCR-responsive and -unresponsive cases. We therefore determined BCR responsiveness ex vivo based on Ca2+ influx upon α-IgM stimulation of purified CLL cell fractions from 52 patients. Phosphorylation levels of various BCR signaling molecules, and expression of activation markers were assessed by flow cytometry. Transcription profiling of responsive (n=6) and unresponsive cases (n=6) was performed by RNA sequencing. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis was used to validate transcript level differences in a larger cohort. In 24 cases an α-IgM response was visible by Ca2+ influx which was accompanied by higher phosphorylation of PLCγ2 and Akt after α-IgM stimulation in combination with higher surface expression of IgM, IgD, CD19, CD38 and CD43 compared to the unresponsive cases (n=28). Based on RNA sequencing analysis several components of the canonical nuclear factor (NF)-κB pathway, especially those related to NF-κB inhibition, were expressed more highly in unresponsive cases. Moreover, upon α-IgM stimulation, the expression of these NF-κB pathway genes (especially genes coding for NF-κB pathway inhibitors but also NF-κB subunit REL) was upregulated in BCR-responsive cases while the level did not change, compared to basal level, in the unresponsive cases. These findings suggest that cells from CLL cases with enhanced NF-κB signaling have a lesser capacity to respond to BCR stimulation.

Defects in memory B-cell and plasma cell subsets expressing different immunoglobulin-subclasses in patients with CVID and immunoglobulin subclass deficiencies.

BACKGROUND: Predominantly antibody deficiencies (PADs) are the most prevalent primary immunodeficiencies, but their B-cell defects and underlying genetic alterations remain largely unknown. OBJECTIVE: We investigated patients with PADs for the distribution of 41 blood B-cell and plasma cell (PC) subsets, including subsets defined by expression of distinct immunoglobulin heavy chain subclasses. METHODS: Blood samples from 139 patients with PADs, 61 patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID), 68 patients with selective IgA deficiency (IgAdef), 10 patients with IgG subclass deficiency with IgA deficiency, and 223 age-matched control subjects were studied by using flow cytometry with EuroFlow immunoglobulin isotype staining. Patients were classified according to their B-cell and PC immune profile, and the obtained patient clusters were correlated with clinical manifestations of PADs. RESULTS: Decreased counts of blood PCs, memory B cells (MBCs), or both expressing distinct IgA and IgG subclasses were identified in all patients with PADs. In patients with IgAdef, B-cell defects were mainly restricted to surface membrane (sm)IgA+ PCs and MBCs, with 2 clear subgroups showing strongly decreased numbers of smIgA+ PCs with mild versus severe smIgA+ MBC defects and higher frequencies of nonrespiratory tract infections, autoimmunity, and affected family members. Patients with IgG subclass deficiency with IgA deficiency and those with CVID showed defects in both smIgA+ and smIgG+ MBCs and PCs. Reduced numbers of switched PCs were systematically found in patients with CVID (absent in 98%), with 6 different defective MBC (and clinical) profiles: (1) profound decrease in MBC numbers; (2) defective CD27+ MBCs with almost normal IgG3+ MBCs; (3) absence of switched MBCs; and (4) presence of both unswitched and switched MBCs without and; (5) with IgG2+ MBCs; and (6) with IgA1+ MBCs. CONCLUSION: Distinct PAD defective B-cell patterns were identified that are associated with unique clinical profiles.

In Vitro Measles Virus Infection of Human Lymphocyte Subsets Demonstrates High Susceptibility and Permissiveness of both Naive and Memory B Cells.

Measles is characterized by a transient immune suppression, leading to an increased risk of opportunistic infections. Measles virus (MV) infection of immune cells is mediated by the cellular receptor CD150, expressed by subsets of lymphocytes, dendritic cells, macrophages, and thymocytes. Previous studies showed that human and nonhuman primate memory T cells express higher levels of CD150 than naive cells and are more susceptible to MV infection. However, limited information is available about the CD150 expression and relative susceptibility to MV infection of B-cell subsets. In this study, we assessed the susceptibility and permissiveness of naive and memory T- and B-cell subsets from human peripheral blood or tonsils to in vitro MV infection. Our study demonstrates that naive and memory B cells express CD150, but at lower frequencies than memory T cells. Nevertheless, both naive and memory B cells proved to be highly permissive to MV infection. Furthermore, we assessed the susceptibility and permissiveness of various functionally distinct T and B cells, such as helper T (TH) cell subsets and IgG- and IgA-positive memory B cells, in peripheral blood and tonsils. We demonstrated that TH1TH17 cells and plasma and germinal center B cells were the subsets most susceptible and permissive to MV infection. Our study suggests that both naive and memory B cells, along with several other antigen-experienced lymphocytes, are important target cells of MV infection. Depletion of these cells potentially contributes to the pathogenesis of measles immune suppression.IMPORTANCE Measles is associated with immune suppression and is often complicated by bacterial pneumonia, otitis media, or gastroenteritis. Measles virus infects antigen-presenting cells and T and B cells, and depletion of these cells may contribute to lymphopenia and immune suppression. Measles has been associated with follicular exhaustion in lymphoid tissues in humans and nonhuman primates, emphasizing the importance of MV infection of B cells in vivo However, information on the relative susceptibility of B-cell subsets is scarce. Here, we compared the susceptibility and permissiveness to in vitro MV infection of human naive and memory T- and B-cell subsets isolated from peripheral blood or tonsils. Our results demonstrate that both naive and memory B cells are more permissive to MV infection than T cells. The highest infection levels were detected in plasma cells and germinal center B cells, suggesting that infection and depletion of these populations contribute to reduced host resistance.

Standardized flow cytometry for highly sensitive MRD measurements in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

A fully-standardized EuroFlow 8-color antibody panel and laboratory procedure was stepwise designed to measure minimal residual disease (MRD) in B-cell precursor (BCP) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients with a sensitivity of ≤10-5, comparable to real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR)-based MRD detection via antigen-receptor rearrangements. Leukocyte markers and the corresponding antibodies and fluorochromes were selected based on their contribution in separating BCP-ALL cells from normal/regenerating BCP cells in multidimensional principal component analyses. After 5 multicenter design-test-evaluate-redesign phases with a total of 319 BCP-ALL patients at diagnosis, two 8-color antibody tubes were selected, which allowed separation between normal and malignant BCP cells in 99% of studied patients. These 2 tubes were tested with a new erythrocyte bulk-lysis protocol allowing acquisition of high cell numbers in 377 bone marrow follow-up samples of 178 BCP-ALL patients. Comparison with RQ-PCR-based MRD data showed a clear positive relation between the percentage concordant cases and the number of cells acquired. For those samples with >4 million cells acquired, concordant results were obtained in 93% of samples. Most discordances were clarified upon high-throughput sequencing of antigen-receptor rearrangements and blind multicenter reanalysis of flow cytometric data, resulting in an unprecedented concordance of 98% (97% for samples with MRD < 0.01%). In conclusion, the fully standardized EuroFlow BCP-ALL MRD strategy is applicable in >98% of patients with sensitivities at least similar to RQ-PCR (≤10-5), if sufficient cells (>4 × 106, preferably more) are evaluated.