Low incidence of HHV-6 reactivation in haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with corticosteroid as graft-vs-host disease prophylaxis compared with cord blood transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) mismatch and the administration of immunosuppressive agents are considered risks for human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) reactivation after stem cell transplantation (SCT). However, the incidence of HHV-6 reactivation in HLA-mismatched related SCT remains unknown. METHODS: We monitored plasma HHV-6 DNA loads weekly using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction for 5 weeks after SCT and compared serum IL-6 levels in HLA-mismatched SCT groups. RESULTS: Compared with detection in all 11 umbilical cord blood transplantation (CBT) patients (100%), plasma HHV-6 DNA was detected in only 3 of 42 haplo-SCT patients (7.1%) despite the use of methylprednisolone and antithymocyte globulin as graft-vs-host disease prophylaxis and a reduced-intensity conditioning regimen, respectively. Correspondingly, serum IL-6 levels in haplo-SCT patients were significantly lower than those in CBT patients. No HHV-6-associated encephalitis developed in either groups. CONCLUSIONS: Neither HLA disparity nor the use of methylprednisolone and antithymocyte globulin were risk factors for HHV-6 reactivation in our haplo-SCT patients. Rather than increasing risk, the administration of immunosuppressive agents potentially prevented HHV-6 reactivation after haplo-SCT by suppressing IL-6 production.

Host Foxp3+CD4+ Regulatory T Cells Act as a Negative Regulator of Dendritic Cells in the Peritransplantation Period.

Host Foxp3+CD4+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) have been shown to suppress graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in experimental bone marrow transplantation (BMT) models; however, the detailed mechanism is unknown. To address this issue, we established a murine MHC-haploidentical BMT model (BDF1 (H-2b/d) → B6C3F1 (H-2b/k)), in which transplantation following conditioning with high-dose (13 Gy) or low-dose (5 Gy) total body irradiation corresponds to myeloablative stem cell transplantation (MAST) or reduced-intensity stem cell transplantation (RIST) BMT. All MAST recipients died of GVHD within 70 d, whereas RIST recipients developed almost no GVHD and survived for at least 3 mo. In this BMT model, we investigated the kinetics of immune cells in the mesenteric lymph nodes because GVHD was most prominent in the intestines. Host Tregs that survived after total body irradiation could proliferate transiently by day 4. Comparing the kinetics of immune cells among MAST, RIST, and anti-CD25 mAb-treated RIST, we found that the transiently surviving host Tregs were fully functional, closely contacted with host dendritic cells (DCs), and significantly restrained the maturation (CD80 and CD86 expression) of DCs in a dose-dependent manner. There was a positive correlation between the ratio of DCs to host Tregs and the extent of maturation of DCs. Host Tregs suppressed alloresponse mainly by contact inhibition. Host Tregs are already active in lymph nodes before transplantation and restrain the maturation of host DCs, thereby dampening the ability of DCs to activate allogeneic donor T cells and consequently reducing the magnitude of graft-versus-host reaction. Thus, host Tregs are negative regulators of host DCs that act in the peritransplantation period.

Early detection of cytomegalovirus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes against cytomegalovirus antigenemia in human leukocyte antigen haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-haploidentical stem cell transplantation (haplo-SCT) is associated with a high incidence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, probably originating from the delayed reconstitution of CMV-specific T cell immunity. There have been few reports on the presence of CMV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CMV-CTLs) after haplo-SCT. We have studied CMV-specific immune reconstitution by measuring the absolute number of CMV-CTLs using a flow cytometry method with HLA-A2-restricted NLVPMVATV peptide dextramers. We examined the association between reconstitution patterns of CMV-CTLs and the duration of CMV antigenemia in 15 patients who underwent first allogeneic SCT from HLA-haploidentical-related donors with HLA-A2. In seven and eight patients, CMV antigenemia consecutively resolved for more than 4 weeks (the CMV antigenemia 'resolved' group) and intermittently persisted (the CMV antigenemia 'persistent' group) during a 100-day observation period, respectively. The group of the seven patients, in whom levels of CMV antigenemia were reduced to zero, had a significantly lower maximum level of CMV antigenemia than the CMV antigenemia persistent group. In contrast, the CMV antigenemia persistent group had a significantly higher maximum level of CMV-CTLs, but the levels took longer to peak. Despite no difference in general lymphocyte recovery between the two groups, the CMV antigenemia resolved group had significantly higher median CMV-CTL counts than the CMV antigenemia persistent group at 6 weeks after onset of CMV infection. Flow cytometry analysis of CMV-CTLs is a convenient method of monitoring reconstitution of CMV-specific lymphocyte immunity following haplo-SCT.

Enhanced angiogenic properties of umbilical cord blood primed by OP9 stromal cells ameliorates neurological deficits in cerebral infarction mouse model.

Umbilical cord blood (UCB) transplantation shows proangiogenic effects and contributes to symptom amelioration in animal models of cerebral infarction. However, the effect of specific cell types within a heterogeneous UCB population are still controversial. OP9 is a stromal cell line used as feeder cells to promote the hematoendothelial differentiation of embryonic stem cells. Hence, we investigated the changes in angiogenic properties, underlying mechanisms, and impact on behavioral deficiencies caused by cerebral infarction in UCB co-cultured with OP9 for up to 24 h. In the network formation assay, only OP9 pre-conditioned UCB formed network structures. Single-cell RNA sequencing and flow cytometry analysis showed a prominent phenotypic shift toward M2 in the monocytic fraction of OP9 pre-conditioned UCB. Further, OP9 pre-conditioned UCB transplantation in mice models of cerebral infarction facilitated angiogenesis in the peri-infarct lesions and ameliorated the associated symptoms. In this study, we developed a strong, fast, and feasible method to augment the M2, tissue-protecting, pro-angiogenic features of UCB using OP9. The ameliorative effect of OP9-pre-conditioned UCB in vivo could be partly due to promotion of innate angiogenesis in peri-infarct lesions.

Intrabone marrow transplantation of unwashed cord blood using reduced-intensity conditioning treatment: a phase I study.

The outcome of cord blood transplantation following reduced-intensity conditioning is suboptimal because of fatal infection triggered by prolonged neutropenia and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in addition to graft rejection. Intrabone marrow injection (IBMI) may improve the outcome by providing better hematopoietic engraftment and less GVHD. We therefore evaluated IBMI safety in reduced-intensity stem cell transplantation. Furthermore, we used unwashed cord blood to avoid stem cell loss. Ten patients (median age = 61 years old) were enrolled. Cord blood cells were thawed at the bedside and injected into 4 iliac bone sites (2 at each hemipelvis). The procedure was well tolerated with no injection-related complications. Nine patients achieved donor engraftment. The median time to neutrophil recovery (>0.5 × 10(9)/L) was 17 days, and platelet recovery was achieved in 8 patients. Early full donor chimerism was achieved (median of 15 and 20 days in T cells and myeloid cells, respectively). Three of 9 evaluable patients developed grade II to III GVHD, and 5 of 10 patients died of treatment-related toxicities. The probability of survival at 1 year was 46.7%. IBMI of unwashed cord blood following reduced-intensity conditioning is safe, well tolerated, and may lead to an increased donor engraftment rate.

Human umbilical cord provides a significant source of unexpanded mesenchymal stromal cells.

BACKGROUND AIMS: Human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) have considerable potential for cell-based therapies, including applications for regenerative medicine and immune suppression in graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). However, harvesting cells from the human body can cause iatrogenic disorders and in vitro expansion of MSC carries a risk of tumorigenesis and/or expansion of unexpected cell populations. METHODS: Given these problems, we have focused on umbilical cord, a tissue obtained with few ethical problems that contains significant numbers of MSC. We have developed a modified method to isolate MSC from umbilical cord, and investigated their properties using flow cytometry, mRNA analysis and an in vivo GvHD model. RESULTS: Our study demonstrates that, using umbilical cord, large numbers of MSC can be safely obtained using a simple procedure without in vitro expansion, and these non-expanded MSC have the potential to suppress GvHD. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the combined banking of umbilical cord-derived MSC and identical cord blood-derived hematopoietic stem cell banking, where strict inspection of the infectious disease status of donors is performed, as well as further benefits of HLA-matched mesenchymal cells, could become one of the main sources of cells for cell-based therapy against various disorders.

Incidence and treatment strategy for disseminated adenovirus disease after haploidentical stem cell transplantation.

Adenovirus (AdV) infection is an emerging complication in patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) and is closely associated with delayed immune reconstitution. In particular, disseminated AdV disease accompanies a high mortality. We retrospectively examined the incidence of AdV infection in patients undergoing unmanipulated haploidentical SCT. Following 121 transplantations in 110 patients, three had asymptomatic AdV viremia, three had localized AdV disease (hemorrhagic cystitis, HC), and seven had disseminated AdV disease (HC + viremia). The median time from transplantation to the onset of AdV-associated HC was 15 days (range 4-39), and the median time to the onset of disseminated AdV disease was 23 days (range 7-38). The cumulative incidence of AdV-associated HC was 8.3 %, and that of disseminated AdV disease was 5.8 %. AdV group B (type 11, type 34, or type 35) was detected in plasma samples from all the patients with disseminated AdV disease. Among them, three patients who received either cidofovir or donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) alone progressed to pneumonia and died. The remaining four patients were treated with the combination of cidofovir and low-dose unmanipulated DLI, and all survived. We showed that disseminated AdV disease is a significant complication after haplo-SCT and that the combination of cidofovir and DLI is a promising treatment option.

Epstein-barr virus in diffuse large B-Cell lymphoma in immunocompetent patients in Japan is as low as in Western Countries.

According to previous reports, the frequency of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) positivity in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is higher in East Asia (approximately 9%) than in Western countries. The presence of the EBV genome was examined in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients registered with the Osaka Lymphoma Study Group (OLSG) in Osaka, Japan, situated in East Asia. The EBV-positive rate was examined with in situ hybridization (ISH) in 484 immunocompetent diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients registered with OLSG. The male-to-female ratio was 1.29, with ages ranging from 16 to 95 (median, 68) years. ISH with EBV-encoded small RNAs (EBER) probes revealed positive signals in the nuclei of tumor cells: the frequency of positively stained cells among all tumor cells was almost none in 458 cases, 5-10% in 5, 10-20% in 5, 20-50% in 11, and >50% in 5. When the frequency was >20% or >50%, the EBV-positive rate in the present series (3.3% or 1.0%) was rather similar to that reported in Western cases. Careful evaluation of patient backgrounds, including age distribution, type of lymphomas, exclusion of immunocompromised patients, and establishment of definite criteria for EBV positivity (>20%, >50%, or almost all tumor cells) are essential in comparing geographical differences.

Bone marrow mononuclear cells promote proliferation of endogenous neural stem cells through vascular niches after cerebral infarction.

Increasing evidence shows that administration of bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMCs) is a potential treatment for various ischemic diseases, such as ischemic stroke. Although angiogenesis has been considered primarily responsible for the effect of BMMCs, their direct contribution to endothelial cells (ECs) by being a functional elements of vascular niches for neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) has not been considered. Herein, we examine whether BMMCs affected the properties of ECs and NSPCs, and whether they promoted neurogenesis and functional recovery after stroke. We compared i.v. transplantations 1 x 10(6) BMMCs and phosphate-buffered saline in mice 2 days after cortical infarction. Systemically administered BMMCs preferentially accumulated at the postischemic cortex and peri-infarct area in brains; cell proliferation of ECs (angiogenesis) at these regions was significantly increased in BMMCs-treated mice compared with controls. We also found that endogenous NSPCs developed in close proximity to ECs in and around the poststroke cortex and that ECs were essential for proliferation of these ischemia-induced NSPCs. Furthermore, BMMCs enhanced proliferation of NSPCs as well as ECs. Proliferation of NSPCs was suppressed by additional treatment with endostatin (known to inhibit proliferation of ECs) following BMMCs transplantation. Subsequently, neurogenesis and functional recovery were also promoted in BMMCs-treated mice compared with controls. These results suggest that BMMCs can contribute to the proliferation of endogenous ischemia-induced NSPCs through vascular niche regulation, which includes regulation of endothelial proliferation. In addition, these results suggest that BMMCs transplantation has potential as a novel therapeutic option in stroke treatment.

Immunodeficiency reduces neural stem/progenitor cell apoptosis and enhances neurogenesis in the cerebral cortex after stroke.

Acute inflammation in the poststroke period exacerbates neuronal damage and stimulates reparative mechanisms, including neurogenesis. However, only a small fraction of neural stem/progenitor cells survives. In this report, by using a highly reproducible model of cortical infarction in SCID mice, we examined the effects of immunodeficiency on reduction of brain injury, survival of neural stem/progenitor cells, and functional recovery. Subsequently, the contribution of T lymphocytes to neurogenesis was evaluated in mice depleted for each subset of T lymphocyte. SCID mice revealed the reduced apoptosis and enhanced proliferation of neural stem/progenitor cells induced by cerebral cortex after stroke compared with the immunocompetent wild-type mice. Removal of T lymphocytes, especially the CD4(+) T-cell population, enhanced generation of neural stem/progenitor cells, followed by accelerated functional recovery. In contrast, removal of CD25(+) T cells, a cell population including regulatory T lymphocytes, impaired functional recovery through, at least in part, suppression of neurogenesis. Our findings demonstrate a key role of T lymphocytes in regulation of poststroke neurogenesis and indicate a potential novel strategy for cell therapy in repair of the central nervous system.

Isolation and characterization of neural stem/progenitor cells from post-stroke cerebral cortex in mice.

The CNS has the potential to marshal strong reparative mechanisms, including activation of endogenous neurogenesis, after a brain injury such as stroke. However, the response of neural stem/progenitor cells to stroke is poorly understood. Recently, neural stem/progenitor cells have been identified in the cerebral cortex, as well as previously recognized regions such as the subventricular or subgranular zones of the hippocampus, suggesting that a contribution of cortex-derived neural stem/progenitor cells may repair ischemic lesions of the cerebral cortex. In the present study, using a highly reproducible murine model of cortical infarction, we have found nestin-positive cells in the post-stroke cerebral cortex, but not in the non-ischemic cortex. Cells obtained from the ischemic core of the post-stroke cerebral cortex formed neurosphere-like cell clusters expressing nestin; such cells had the capacity for self-renewal and differentiated into electrophysiologically functional neurons, astrocytes and myelin-producing oligodendrocytes. Nestin-positive cells from the stroke-affected cortex migrated into the peri-infarct area and differentiated into glial cells in vivo. Although we could not detect differentiation of nestin-positive cells into neurons in vivo, our current observations indicate that endogenous neural stem/progenitors with the potential to become neurons can develop within post-stroke cerebral cortex.

Unmanipulated HLA 2-3 antigen-mismatched (haploidentical) bone marrow transplantation using only pharmacological GVHD prophylaxis.

OBJECTIVE: The incidence of severe graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) in unmanipulated human leukocyte antigen (HLA) 2-3 antigen-mismatched bone marrow transplantation (BMT) using cyclosporine and methotrexate as GVHD prophylaxis is 80% to 90%. We investigated whether pharmacological GVHD prophylaxis consisting of four drugs, including a steroid, effectively suppressed GVHD in this transplantation setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients who had hematologic malignancies at an advanced stage or with poor prognosis underwent allogeneic BMT using a myeloablative preconditioning regimen consisting of cyclophosphamide (60 mg/kg x 2), total body irradiation (8-10 Gy), and fludarabine (30 mg/m(2) x 4) with or without cytosine arabinoside (2 g/m(2) x 4), and GVHD prophylaxis consisting of a combination of tacrolimus, methotrexate, mycophenolate mofetil, and methylprednisone (2 mg/kg). Early therapeutic intervention for GVH reaction or grade I GVHD was performed, and steroid was slowly tapered. RESULTS: All patients achieved donor-type engraftment. Neutrophil (>0.5 x 10(9)/L) and platelet (>20 x 10(9)/L) engraftment was achieved on day 13 and on day 30, respectively. Seventeen patients (56.7%) had no GVHD. Eleven patients (36.7%) developed grade II-III acute GVHD. Seven patients (23.3%) died of transplant-related toxicity, including fungal or viral infections and thrombotic microangiopathy, and four patients died of disease progression. Estimated relapse rate at 3 years was only 20.9%. The probability of survival at 3 years was 49.9%. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that, in unmanipulated HLA-haploidentical allogeneic BMT, this GVHD prophylactic regimen, which includes methylprednisolone 2 mg/kg, and early therapeutic intervention for GVH reaction suppress the incidence of severe GVHD to an acceptable level, while preserving the graft-vs-leukemia effect.

Safety and efficacy of amnion-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AM01) in patients with steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a study protocol for a phase I/II Japanese trial.

INTRODUCTION: Regenerative medicine and cell therapies have been gaining much attention among clinicians. Therapeutic infusion of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) is now a leading investigational strategy for the treatment of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD). Bone marrow MSCs are approved for manufacture and marketing as a cell therapy for aGVHD. Our non-clinical studies confirmed that human amnion-derived MSCs had immunomodulatory activity equal to or higher than that of human bone marrow MSCs. This study will aim to evaluate the safety and efficacy of amnion-derived MSCs (AM01) in patients with steroid-refractory aGVHD. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This study will be a multicentre, single-arm, open-label trial (an interventional study). This clinical trial will begin with a low-dose group, and when safety has been confirmed in at least three cases in the low-dose group, treatment will begin for the high-dose group, for which the safety will also be verified. The primary endpoint is to assess the safety of intravenous infusion therapy of AM01 within 24 hours after intravenous infusion of AM01. The secondary endpoint is to explore the efficacy of intravenous infusion therapy with AM01. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The institutional review boards of all participating hospitals approved this study protocol (latest V3.3.0, 3 August 2018). Final data will be publicly announced. A report releasing the study results will be submitted for publication to an appropriate peer-reviewed journal. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: UMIN000029945.

Circulating CD34-positive cells provide a marker of vascular risk associated with cognitive impairment.

Maintenance of uninterrupted cerebral circulation is critical for neural homeostasis. The level of circulating CD34-positive (CD34(+)) cells has been suggested as an index of cerebrovascular health, although its relationship with cognitive function has not yet been defined. In a group of individuals with cognitive impairment, the level of circulating CD34(+) cells was quantified and correlated with clinical diagnoses. Compared with normal subjects, a significant decrease in circulating CD34(+) cells was observed in patients with vascular-type cognitive impairment, although no significant change was observed in patients with Alzheimer's-type cognitive impairment who had no evidence of cerebral ischemia. The level of cognitive impairment was inversely correlated with numbers of circulating CD34(+) cells in patients with vascular-type cognitive impairment, but not Alzheimer's type. We propose that the level of circulating CD34(+) cells provides a marker of vascular risk associated with cognitive impairment, and that differences in the pathobiology of Alzheimer's- and vascular-type cognitive impairment may be mirrored in levels of circulating CD34(+) cells in these patient populations.

Increase in circulating CD34-positive cells in patients with angiographic evidence of moyamoya-like vessels.

Increasing evidence points to a role for circulating endothelial progenitor cells, including populations of CD34-positive (CD34(+)) cells, in maintenance of cerebral blood flow. In this study, we investigated the link between the level of circulating CD34(+) cells and neovascularization at ischemic brain. Compared with control subjects, a remarkable increase of circulating CD34(+) cells was observed in patients with angiographic moyamoya vessels, although no significant change was observed in patients with major cerebral artery occlusion (or severe stenosis) but without moyamoya vessels. Our results suggest that the increased level of CD34(+) cells associated with ischemic stress is correlated with neovascularization at human ischemic brain.

Low circulating CD34+ cell count is associated with poor prognosis in chronic hemodialysis patients.

Circulating CD34-positive (CD34(+)) cells, a population that includes endothelial progenitor cells, are believed to contribute to vascular homeostasis. Here we determine the prognostic value of CD34(+) cell measurements in 216 chronic hemodialysis patients. A total of 43 cardiovascular events and 13 deaths occurred over an average 23 months follow-up in this cohort. A cutoff number for circulating CD34(+) cells was determined by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis to maximize the power of the CD34(+) cell count in predicting future cardiovascular events. Based on this, 93 patients were categorized as having low and 123 patients as having high numbers of CD34(+) cells, determined by flow cytometry at the time of enrollment. Both cumulative cardiovascular event-free survival and all-cause survival were significantly less in the group of patients with low numbers of CD34(+) cells. By multivariate analyses, a low level of circulating CD34(+) cells was an independent and significant predictor for both cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. Our study shows that a reduced number of circulating CD34(+) cells is significantly associated with vascular risks and all-cause mortality in patients on chronic hemodialysis. These cells may be a useful biomarker.

Unblinded pilot study of autologous transplantation of bone marrow mononuclear cells in patients with thromboangiitis obliterans.

BACKGROUND: The short-term clinical benefits of bone marrow mononuclear cell transplantation have been shown in patients with critical limb ischemia. The purpose of this study was to assess the long-term safety and efficacy of bone marrow mononuclear cell transplantation in patients with thromboangiitis obliterans. METHODS AND RESULTS: Eleven limbs (3 with rest pain and 8 with an ischemic ulcer) of 8 patients were treated by bone marrow mononuclear cell transplantation. The patients were followed up for clinical events for a mean of 684+/-549 days (range 103 to 1466 days). At 4 weeks, improvement in pain was observed in all 11 limbs, with complete relief in 4 (36%). Pain scale (visual analog scale) score decreased from 5.1+/-0.7 to 1.5+/-1.3. An improvement in skin ulcers was observed in all 8 limbs with an ischemic ulcer, with complete healing in 7 (88%). During the follow-up, however, clinical events occurred in 4 of the 8 patients. The first patient suffered sudden death at 20 months after transplantation at 30 years of age. The second patient with an incomplete healing of a skin ulcer showed worsening of the lesion at 4 months. The third patient showed worsening of rest pain at 8 months. The last patient developed an arteriovenous shunt in the foot at 7 months, which spontaneously regressed by 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: In the present unblinded and uncontrolled pilot study, long-term adverse events, including death and unfavorable angiogenesis, were observed in half of the patients receiving bone marrow mononuclear cell transplantation. Given the current incomplete knowledge of the safety and efficacy of this strategy, careful long-term monitoring is required for future patients receiving this treatment.

Administration of CD34+ cells after stroke enhances neurogenesis via angiogenesis in a mouse model.

Thrombo-occlusive cerebrovascular disease resulting in stroke and permanent neuronal loss is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Because of the unique properties of cerebral vasculature and the limited reparative capability of neuronal tissue, it has been difficult to devise effective neuroprotective therapies in cerebral ischemia. Our results demonstrate that systemic administration of human cord blood-derived CD34(+) cells to immunocompromised mice subjected to stroke 48 hours earlier induces neovascularization in the ischemic zone and provides a favorable environment for neuronal regeneration. Endogenous neurogenesis, suppressed by an antiangiogenic agent, is accelerated as a result of enhanced migration of neuronal progenitor cells to the damaged area, followed by their maturation and functional recovery. Our data suggest an essential role for CD34(+) cells in promoting directly or indirectly an environment conducive to neovascularization of ischemic brain so that neuronal regeneration can proceed.

Spousal hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

We report a pilot series of five patients who received stem cell transplantation (SCT) from a spouse for post-transplant relapse or rejection. The inclusion criterion regarding HLA disparities was three or fewer antigen mismatches in the graft-versus-host direction at the HLA-A, B, and DR loci. Four patients received spousal SCT as a third transplant attempt after post-transplant relapse and one as rescue for graft rejection. The reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) regimen consisted of fludarabine, melphalan, and anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) with 3 Gy of total body irradiation (TBI) for relapse cases and ATG plus 4 Gy of TBI for the rejection case. Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis consisted of tacrolimus, methylprednisolone, and mycophenolate mofetil. Peripheral blood stem cells were transplanted. Granulocyte engraftment was achieved in all cases between days 9 and 11 (median, 10) with complete spousal chimerism. In three of the five patients, no acute GVHD was observed, while one case developed grade III GVHD and one case grade IV. All four patients evaluable for the anti-leukemic effect achieved complete remission; however, all relapsed between 106 and 334 day post-transplant, and died between days 152 and 548. We suggest that spousal SCT can be performed as a repetitive SCT using a RIC regimen with low-dose ATG and steroid-containing GVHD prophylaxis.

Prognostic significance of BACH2 expression in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a study of the Osaka Lymphoma Study Group.

PURPOSE: BACH2, a B-cell-specific transcription repressor, is abundantly expressed in lymphocytes of B-cell lineage as well as B-cell lymphoma cell lines. BACH2 possesses an inhibitory effect on proliferation of Raji cell lines derived from Burkitt's lymphoma. In this study, the prognostic significance of BACH2 expression was examined in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: BACH2 expression was immunohistochemically examined on the paraffin-embedded sections obtained by biopsy from 108 patients (62 males and 46 females; age range, 23 to 85 years) with DLBCL. Staining intensity in the cytoplasm of the tumor cells was categorized as equal to or stronger (level 1) or weaker (level 2) than that in the endothelial cells in the same specimens. RESULTS: Level 1 and 2 expression of BACH2 was found in 32.4% and 67.6% of patients, respectively. Patients with level 1 expression showed significantly better disease-free and overall survival rate than those with level 2 expression (both P < .05). Multivariate analysis revealed BACH2 expression level together with performance status, elevated serum level of lactate dehydrogenase, and treatment response to be independent factors for prognosis of the patients. CONCLUSION: BACH2 expression level is a useful marker to predict disease-free and overall survival of patients with DLBCL.