Prognostic value of MYB [6q23] deletion in sample of Egyptian B-cell patients

To assess the incidence and prognostic significance of MYB gene [6q23] deletion among a sample of Egyptian B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia [B-CLL] patients and to con elate it with other established prognostic factors This study was conducted on 63 newly diagnosed Egyptian B-CLL patients attending Am Shams University Hospitals. Fluorescence in situ hybridization [FISH] using locus specific identifier MYB [6q23] probe was applied on peripheral blood/bone marrow samples and was correlated with different established prognostic factors. Follow up was done through a period of 48 months to evaluate disease outcome. 6 patients had MYB deletion. All of them showed lymphocyte doubling time [LDT] more than 12 months and were CD38 positive. 83 3% of patients were good responders to therapy and none of these I atents died. B-CLL patients who were positive for MYB [6q23] deletion represent a cytogenetic entity associated with CD38 positivity and LDT>12 months They were considered as an intermediate risk group

Expression of CD38 and CXCR3 in children with atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis [AD] is a chronic or chronically relapsing inflammatory skin disease with a prevalence ranging from 10% to 20% in children of developed countries. Skin-infiltrating leukocytes play a pivotal role in the initiation and amplification of atopic skin inflammation. The cytokines produced by T helper-,2 [Th2] cells are crucial factors in the induction and maintenance of the disease. to study the percentage of expression and mean fluorescence intensity[ MFI] of the activation marker CD38 and the chemokine receptor CXCR3 on peripheral blood CD3+ lymphocytes in children with atopic dermatitis. Also total serum IgE and absolute differential count were evaluated .This might be targets for therapy in disease. This study was conducted on thirty cases of AD children. Their age range was 3- 10 years. Also non atopic fifteen children age and sex matched with disease group were included as a control group. The percentage of expression of the CD38, CXCR3 and MFI were analyzed by flow- cytometry on peripheral blood CD3+ T lymphocytes. Also total serum IgE levels was measured by immunonephelometry. The absolute eosinophil, absolute lymphocytes, absolute neutrophil count were evaluated. The mean percentage of CD38 expression on CD3 + lymphocytes and MFI were 70.5% and 5.8 respectively in AD children compared with 17.8% and 5.1 in non -atopic children healthy control [p < 0.01 and p > 0.05 respectively]. The mean percentage of CXCR3 expression on CD3+ T lymphocytes and MFI in AD children were 17.9% and 2.9 respectively compared with 67.93%and 3.3 in healthy controls [p < 0.01 and p > 0.05 respectively]. The mean of the total serum IgE in the patient group was 199.3 lU/ml compared with 62.27 lU/ml in-non-atopic children [p < 0.01]. These results suggest that there is a relation between atopic conditions and an increase in peripheral blood T lymphocyte expressing CD38% and decrease expression of CXCR3%.The presence of high expression of CD38 in atopic patients seems to confirm the role of this molecule as an activation marker useful for evaluation of Th2 immune response. whereas CXCR3-expression on CD3+ lymphocytes decreased in AD than normal control as the chemokine receptor profile determine the migratory patterns of leukocytes. These results may suggest the dysbalance between Th1/ Th2 in AD patients

Detection of trisomy 12 in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: association with CD 38 and clinical outcome

Staging systems and laboratory features help predict survival in chronic lymphocytic leukemia [CLL], but they don't distinguish patients who will progress from those whose disease will remain indolent. Trisomy 12 is one of the most common chromosomal abnormalities in B-CLL, but has also been found in a substantial proportion of cases with other chronic leukemic B-cell disorders, such as lymphoplasmacytoid lymphomas. There are contradicting reports on the prognostic importance of trisomy 12 in some reports the abnormality has been associated with a poor prognosis, while in others no inferior survival was seen in patients with trisomy 12 positive CLL. This prompted us to assess its prognostic significance and to evaluate its frequency and clinical characteristics in patients with B-CLL. Twenty patients at different Rai's stages of CLL were included in the current study, their mean age was 54.8 years, with a male to female ratio 13: 7. Peripheral blood smears and bone marrow aspirate smears were collected from each patient. Cytologic preparations were examined microscopically in order to assess the lymphocyte morphology. Immunophenotyping was performed. The diagnosis was supported in all cases by histologic findings in bone marrow biopsy and lymph node biopsy specimens. All patients were subjected to complete history, thorough clinical examination and laboratory investigations, including complete hemogram, bone marrow examination and Immunophenotyping Detection of chromosome 12 was assessed by conventional cytogenetic analysis [CCA] and fluorescence in situ hybridization [FISH] on PB or BM samples to evaluate the two methods. Follow-up of patients was carried out by clinical signs, symptoms, BM examination and response to therapy to detect the outcome of the disease. Molecular study using FISH revealed that the overall incidence of trisomy 12 in CLL studied cases was 20% [4 / 20]. CCA revealed only 2 positive cases. Two patients with trisomy 12 had received previous treatment. In patients containing this molecular abnormality, initial WBCs count more than 50 x 10[9] /L, Hb level less than 9 g/dL, high peripheral lymphocyte count were significantly different than those lacking it [P <0.05] Patients with trisomy 12 revealed a significant difference from those who were negative as regard the clinical outcome [P <0.05]. CD38 identifies a surface molecule with multifunctional activity. Its prognostic importance in B-CLL is currently under investigation in view of the fact that two different groups have recently indicated that CD38 expression could be an independent prognostic marker in B-CLL. In the present work 9 [45%] patients expressed CD38 in more than 20% of CD19 positive cells and were considered as CD38 positive B-CLL. Trisomy 12 was detected more frequently in the CD38 positive B-CLL group. These findings implied that trisomy 12 conferred a poor prognosis for this subgroup of patients