A unique immune signature in blood separates therapy-refractory from therapy-responsive acute graft-versus-host disease.

Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) is an immune cell‒driven, potentially lethal complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation affecting diverse organs, including the skin, liver, and gastrointestinal (GI) tract. We applied mass cytometry (CyTOF) to dissect circulating myeloid and lymphoid cells in children with severe (grade III-IV) aGVHD treated with immune suppressive drugs alone (first-line therapy) or in combination with mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs; second-line therapy). These results were compared with CyTOF data generated in children who underwent transplantation with no aGVHD or age-matched healthy control participants. Onset of aGVHD was associated with the appearance of CD11b+CD163+ myeloid cells in the blood and accumulation in the skin and GI tract. Distinct T-cell populations, including TCRγδ+ cells, expressing activation markers and chemokine receptors guiding homing to the skin and GI tract were found in the same blood samples. CXCR3+ T cells released inflammation-promoting factors after overnight stimulation. These results indicate that lymphoid and myeloid compartments are triggered at aGVHD onset. Immunoglobulin M (IgM) presumably class switched, plasmablasts, and 2 distinct CD11b- dendritic cell subsets were other prominent immune populations found early during the course of aGVHD in patients refractory to both first- and second-line (MSC-based) therapy. In these nonresponding patients, effector and regulatory T cells with skin- or gut-homing receptors also remained proportionally high over time, whereas their frequencies declined in therapy responders. Our results underscore the additive value of high-dimensional immune cell profiling for clinical response evaluation, which may assist timely decision-making in the management of severe aGVHD.

BRAF V600E is associated with higher incidence of second cancers in adults with Langerhans cell histiocytosis.

In this retrospective study, BRAF mutation status did not correlate with disease extent or (event-free) survival in 156 adults with Langerhans cell histiocytosis. BRAFV600E was associated with an increased incidence of second malignancies, often comprising hematological cancers, which may be clonally related.

Demographics and additional haematologic cancers of patients with histiocytic/dendritic cell neoplasms.

AIMS: The discovery of somatic genetic alterations established many histiocytic disorders as haematologic neoplasms. We aimed to investigate the demographic characteristics and additional haematologic cancers of patients diagnosed with histiocytic disorders in The Netherlands. METHODS AND RESULTS: We retrieved data on histiocytosis patients from the Dutch Nationwide Pathology Databank (Palga). During 1993 to 2022, more than 4000 patients with a pathologist-assigned diagnosis of a histiocytic disorder were registered in Palga. Xanthogranulomas were the most common subtype, challenging the prevailing assumption that Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is the most common histiocytic disorder. LCH and juvenile xanthogranuloma (JXG) had a peak incidence in the first years of life; males were overrepresented among all histiocytosis subgroups. 118 patients had a histiocytic disorder and an additional haematologic malignancy, including 107 (91%) adults at the time of histiocytosis diagnosis. In 16/118 patients, both entities had been analysed for the same genetic alteration(s). In 11 of these 16 patients, identical genetic alterations had been detected in both haematologic neoplasms. This included two patients with PAX5 p.P80R mutated B cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and secondary histiocytic sarcoma, further supporting that PAX5 alterations may predispose (precursor) B cells to differentiate into the myeloid lineage. All 4/11 patients with myeloid neoplasms as their additional haematologic malignancy had shared N/KRAS mutations. CONCLUSIONS: This population-based study highlights the frequency of xanthogranulomas. Furthermore, our data add to the growing evidence supporting clonal relationships between histiocytic/dendritic cell neoplasms and additional myeloid or lymphoid malignancies. Particularly adult histiocytosis patients should be carefully evaluated for the development of these associated haematologic cancers.

IL-7 and IL-15 Levels Reflect the Degree of T Cell Depletion during Lymphopenia and Are Associated with an Expansion of Effector Memory T Cells after Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

Differentially and functionally distinct T cell subsets are involved in the development of complications after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), but little is known about factors regulating their recovery after HSCT. In this study, we investigated associations between immune-regulating cytokines, T cell differentiation, and clinical outcomes. We included 80 children undergoing allogeneic HSCT for acute leukemia using bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells grafted from a matched sibling or unrelated donor. Cytokines (IL-7, IL-15, IL-18, SCF, IL-6, IL-2, and TNF-α) and active anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) levels were longitudinally measured along with extended T cell phenotyping. The cytokine profiles showed a temporary rise in IL-7 and IL-15 during lymphopenia, which was strongly dependent on exposure to active ATG. High levels of IL-7 and IL-15 from graft infusion to day +30 were predictive of slower T cell recovery during the first 2 mo post-HSCT; however, because of a major expansion of memory T cell stages, only naive T cells remained decreased after 3 mo (p < 0.05). No differential effect was seen on polarization of CD4+ T cells into Th1, Th2, or Th17 cells or regulatory T cells. Low levels of IL-7 and IL-15 at day +14 were associated with acute graft-versus-host disease grades II-IV in ATG-treated patients (p = 0.0004 and p = 0.0002, respectively). Children with IL-7 levels comparable to healthy controls at day +14 post-HSCT were less likely to develop EBV reactivation posttransplant. These findings suggest that quantification of IL-7 and IL-15 may be useful as biomarkers in assessing the overall T cell depletion and suggest a potential for predicting complications after HSCT.

Bone marrow-derived myeloid progenitors as driver mutation carriers in high- and low-risk Langerhans cell histiocytosis.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a myeloid neoplasia, driven by sporadic activating mutations in the MAPK pathway. The misguided myeloid dendritic cell (DC) model proposes that high-risk, multisystem, risk-organ-positive (MS-RO+) LCH results from driver mutation in a bone marrow (BM)-resident multipotent hematopoietic progenitor, while low-risk, MS-RO- and single-system LCH would result from driver mutation in a circulating or tissue-resident, DC-committed precursor. We have examined the CD34+c-Kit+Flt3+ myeloid progenitor population as potential mutation carrier in all LCH disease manifestations. This population contains oligopotent progenitors of monocytes (Mo's)/macrophages (MΦs), osteoclasts (OCs), and DCs. CD34+c-Kit+Flt3+ cells from BM of MS-RO+ LCH patients produced Langerhans cell (LC)-like cells in vitro. Both LC-like and DC offspring from this progenitor carried the BRAF mutation, confirming their common origin. In both high- and low-risk LCH patients, CD34+c-Kit+Flt3+ progenitor frequency in blood was higher than in healthy donors. In one MS-RO+ LCH patient, CD34+c-Kit+Flt3+ cell frequency in blood and its BRAF-mutated offspring reported response to chemotherapy. CD34+c-Kit+Flt3+ progenitors from blood of both high- and low-risk LCH patients gave rise to DCs and LC-like cells in vitro, but the driver mutation was not easily detectable, likely due to low frequency of mutated progenitors. Mutant BRAF alleles were found in Mo's /MΦs, DCs, LC-like cells, and/or OC-like cells in lesions and/or Mo and DCs in blood of multiple low-risk patients. We therefore hypothesize that in both high- and low-risk LCH, the driver mutation is present in a BM-resident myeloid progenitor that can be mobilized to the blood.

A multicenter study of patients with multisystem Langerhans cell histiocytosis who develop secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.

BACKGROUND: Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare myeloid neoplasm characterized by the presence of abnormal CD1a-positive (CD1a+ )/CD207+ histiocytes. Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) represents a spectrum of hyperinflammatory syndromes typified by the dysregulated activation of the innate and adaptive immune systems. Patients with LCH, particularly those with multisystem (MS) involvement, can develop severe hyperinflammation mimicking that observed in HLH. Nevertheless, to the authors' knowledge, little is known regarding the prevalence, timing, risk factors for development, and outcomes of children and young adults who develop HLH within the context of MS-LCH (hereafter referred to LCH-associated HLH). METHODS: To gain further insights, the authors conducted a retrospective, multicenter study and collected data regarding all patients diagnosed with MS-LCH between 2000 and 2015. RESULTS: Of 384 patients with MS-LCH, 32 were reported by their primary providers to have met the diagnostic criteria for HLH, yielding an estimated 2-year cumulative incidence of 9.3% ± 1.6%. The majority of patients developed HLH at or after the diagnosis of MS-LCH, and nearly one-third (31%) had evidence of an intercurrent infection. Patient age <2 years at the time of diagnosis of LCH; female sex; LCH involvement of the liver, spleen, and hematopoietic system; and a lack of bone involvement each were found to be independently associated with an increased risk of LCH-associated HLH. Patients with MS-LCH who met the criteria for HLH had significantly poorer 5-year survival compared with patients with MS-LCH who did not meet the criteria for HLH (69% vs 97%; P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Given its inferior prognosis, further efforts are warranted to enhance the recognition and optimize the treatment of patients with LCH-associated HLH.

Somatic activating ARAF mutations in Langerhans cell histiocytosis.

The extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway is activated in Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) histiocytes, but only 60% of cases carry somatic activating mutations of BRAF. To identify other genetic causes of ERK pathway activation, we performed whole exome sequencing on purified LCH cells in 3 cases. One patient with wild-type BRAF alleles in his histiocytes had compound mutations in the kinase domain of ARAF. Unlike wild-type ARAF, this mutant was a highly active mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase in vitro and was capable of transforming mouse embryo fibroblasts. Mutant ARAF activity was inhibited by vemurafenib, a BRAF inhibitor, indicating the importance of fully evaluating ERK pathway abnormalities in selecting LCH patients for targeted inhibitor therapy.

The number of T cell allo-epitopes associates with CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell infiltration in pediatric cutaneous GVHD.

Risk factors for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) following allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HCST) include: HLA mismatches, sex-mismatch, and stem-cell source. We retrospectively analyzed if HLA- and sex-mismatching quantitatively affects the composition of GVHD-induced T-cell infiltrates. We quantified absolute numbers of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells present in tissue sections from skin biopsies of 23 pediatric HSCT-recipients with GVHD. HSCT with a sex-mismatched unrelated donor was associated with an increased number of CD4+ T cells when compared to a sex-matched unrelated donor (p=0.01). The absolute numbers of skin-infiltrating T cells were increased in patients expressing T-cell epitopes derived from the recipient's mismatched HLA, so called predicted indirectly recognizable HLA epitopes (PIRCHE). The combined expression of PIRCHE with a sex-mismatch resulted in the highest number of skin-infiltrating T cells. Our results indicate that an increased number of recipient-specific T-cell epitopes is associated with accumulation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the skin.

Intact IFN-γR1 expression and function distinguishes Langerhans cell histiocytosis from mendelian susceptibility to mycobacterial disease.

PURPOSE: Poly-ostotic Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH) can be difficult to distinguish clinically and histologically from disseminated infection in manifesting specific subtypes of Mendelian Susceptibility to Mycobacterial Disease (MSMD). In MSMD-patients, dominant negative germline mutations in the IFN-γR1 gene, in particular in exon 6, lead to autosomal dominant IFN-γ receptor 1 deficiency (ADIFNGR1) and can mimic LCH. We hypothesized that similar defects might underlie the pathogenesis of LCH. METHODS: IFN-γR1 expression was immunohistochemically determined at disease onset in biopsies from 11 LCH-patients and four ADIFNGR1-patients. IFN-γR1 function was analyzed in 18 LCH-patients and 13 healthy controls by assessing the IFN-γ-induced upregulation of Fc-gamma-receptor I (FcγRI) expression on monocytes. Pro-inflammatory cytokine production was measured after stimulation of whole blood with LPS and IFN-γ. Exon 6 of the IFN-γR1 gene was sequenced in 67 LCH-patients to determine whether mutations were present. RESULTS: IFN-γR1 expression was high in three LCH-affected biopsies, similar to ADIFNGR1-affected biopsies, but varied from negative to moderate in eight other LCH-affected biopsies. No functional differences in IFN-γ signaling were detected between LCH-patients with active or non-active disease and healthy controls. No germline mutations in exon 6 of the IFN-γR1 gene were detected in any of the 67 LCH-patients. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to ADIFNGR1-patients, IFN-γ signaling is fully functional in LCH-patients. Either performed before, during or after treatment, these non-invasive functional assays can distinguish LCH-patients from ADIFNGR1-patients and thereby facilitate correct therapy regimens for patients with recurrent osteolytic lesions.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis: fascinating dynamics of the dendritic cell-macrophage lineage.

In its rare occurrence, Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a dangerous but intriguing deviation of mononuclear phagocytes, especially dendritic cells (DCs). Clinically, the disease ranges from self-resolving or well manageable to severe and even fatal. LCH lesions in skin, bone, and other sites contain high numbers of cells with phenotypic features resembling LCs admixed with macrophages, T cells, eosinophils, and multinucleated giant cells. Here we review current progress in the LCH field based on two central questions: (i) are LCH cells intrinsically aberrant, and (ii) how does the lesion drive pathogenesis? We argue that LCH cells may originate from different sources, including epidermal LCs, tissue Langerin(+) DCs, or mononuclear phagocyte precursors. Current and prospective in vitro and in vivo models are discussed. Finally, we discuss recent insights into plasticity of T-helper cell subsets in light of the lesion microenvironment. LCH continues to provide urgent clinical questions thereby inspiring innovative DC lineage research.

Gastrointestinal acute graft-versus-host disease in children: histology for diagnosis, mesenchymal stromal cells for treatment, and biomarkers for prediction of response.

Steroid-nonresponsive acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation carries a poor prognosis. Various groups have reported beneficial effects of mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) infusion as salvage treatment. Response to treatment is typically evaluated using the diagnostic clinical criteria for aGVHD. In this study, we evaluated the usefulness of additional gastrointestinal biopsy specimens paired with serum biomarkers. In a cohort of 22 pediatric patients, persistent or recurrent diarrhea was seen in 18 children treated with MSC infusion for steroid-refractory aGVHD. To exclude other causes of gastrointestinal pathology, patients were biopsied for histological analysis. Eight of 12 patients exhibited residual tissue damage and villous atrophy, but no active aGVHD. Serum biomarkers have been identified as an alternative tool for monitoring the response to aGVHD treatment. The value of biomarkers for inflammation, tissue, and endothelial cell damage was evaluated in our cohort. Although predictive of response to treatment and survival, these markers lack the necessary specificity and sensitivity to predict response to MSC therapy. Objective endpoints for clinical trials on the treatment of steroid-refractory aGVHD remain to be defined. Thus, we recommend including biopsies and biomarkers to discriminate between ongoing aGVHD and postinflammatory malabsorption.

Clinicogenomic associations in childhood Langerhans cell histiocytosis: an international cohort study.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare neoplastic disorder caused by somatic genetic alterations in hematopoietic precursor cells differentiating into CD1a+/CD207+ histiocytes. LCH clinical manifestation is highly heterogeneous. BRAF and MAP2K1 mutations account for ∼80% of genetic driver alterations in neoplastic LCH cells. However, their clinical associations remain incompletely understood. Here, we present an international clinicogenomic study of childhood LCH, investigating 377 patients genotyped for at least BRAFV600E. MAPK pathway gene alterations were detected in 300 (79.6%) patients, including 191 (50.7%) with BRAFV600E, 54 with MAP2K1 mutations, 39 with BRAF exon 12 mutations, 13 with rare BRAF alterations, and 3 with ARAF or KRAS mutations. Our results confirm that BRAFV600E associates with lower age at diagnosis and higher prevalence of multisystem LCH, high-risk disease, and skin involvement. Furthermore, BRAFV600E appeared to correlate with a higher prevalence of central nervous system (CNS)-risk bone lesions. In contrast, MAP2K1 mutations associated with a higher prevalence of single-system (SS)-bone LCH, and BRAF exon 12 deletions seemed to correlate with more lung involvement. Although BRAFV600E correlated with reduced event-free survival in the overall cohort, neither BRAF nor MAP2K1 mutations associated with event-free survival when patients were stratified by disease extent. Thus, the correlation of BRAFV600E with inferior clinical outcome is (primarily) driven by its association with disease extents known for high rates of progression or relapse, including multisystem LCH. These findings advance our understanding of factors underlying the remarkable clinical heterogeneity of LCH but also question the independent prognostic value of lesional BRAFV600E status.

In situ detection of HY-specific T cells in acute graft-versus-host disease-affected male skin after sex-mismatched stem cell transplantation.

HY-specific T cells are presumed to play a role in acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) after female-to-male stem cell transplantation (SCT). However, infiltrates of these T cells in aGVHD-affected tissues have not yet been reported. We evaluated the application of HLA-A2/HY dextramers for the in situ detection of HY-specific T cells in cryopreserved skin biopsy specimens. We applied the HLA-A2/HY dextramers on cryopreserved skin biopsy specimens from seven male HLA-A2(+) pediatric patients who underwent stem cell transplantation with confirmed aGVHD involving the skin. The dextramers demonstrated the presence of HY-specific T cells. In skin biopsy specimens of three male recipients of female grafts, 68% to 78% of all skin-infiltrating CD8(+) T cells were HY-specific, whereas these cells were absent in biopsy specimens collected from sex-matched patient-donor pairs. Although this study involved a small and heterogeneous patient group, our results strongly support the hypothesis that HY-specific T cells are actively involved in the pathophysiology of aGVHD after sex-mismatched stem cell transplantation.

Aggressive unifocal bone Langerhans cell histiocytosis with soft tissue extension both responsive to radiotherapy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare haematological neoplasm characterized by the accumulation of CD1a+, CD207/Langerin+ histiocytes within inflammatory lesions. LCH can involve any organ, but osteolytic bone lesions are most often encountered. Unifocal bone lesions may regress spontaneously after a thick needle biopsy has been taken. CASE PRESENTATION: In this case report, we describe the initial presentation of a single BRAFV600E mutated osteolytic LCH lesion in the left proximal humerus of a 46-year-old previously healthy woman. Despite multiple surgical interventions, she unexpectedly experienced progressive disease manifestation with significant soft tissue extension to the surrounding musculature, subcutis and epidermis. Because the disease manifestation remained loco-regional, radiotherapy (RT) (total dose of 20 Gy in 10 fractions) was initiated. CONCLUSION: The patient achieved a complete remission without any side effects. This case highlights that RT is a rational and relative mild local treatment option for patients with aggressive LCH affecting the bone and surrounding soft tissue.

Association of HY-restricting HLA class II alleles with pregnancy outcome in patients with recurrent miscarriage subsequent to a firstborn boy.

Healthy females, pregnant with a boy, generate immune responses against male-specific minor histocompatibility (HY) antigens. The clinical importance of these responses is evident in stem cell transplantation. Birth of a boy prior to a series of miscarriages reduces the chance of a subsequent live birth. This study explores the putative impact of known HY-presenting HLA alleles on future pregnancy outcome in women with at least three consecutive miscarriages following a birth [secondary recurrent miscarriage (SRM)]. HLA-A, -B, -DRB1, DRB3-5 and DQB1 genotyping was performed in 358 SRM patients and in 203 of their children born prior to the miscarriages. The subsequent live birth in women with boys prior to the miscarriages compared with girls is lower in women with HY-restricting HLA class II alleles [odds ratio (OR): 0.17 (0.1-0.4), P = 0.0001]. One HY-restricting HLA class II allele in women with firstborn boys significantly reduces the chances of a live birth [OR: 0.46 (0.2-0.9), P = 0.02]. Two HY-restricting HLA class II alleles further reduced this chance [OR: 0.21 (0.1-0.7), P = 0.02]. HY-restricting HLA class II did not reduce the chances of a live birth in SRM women with firstborn girls. HY-restricting HLA class II alleles are associated with a decreased chance of a live birth in SRM women with firstborn boys. These findings strongly indicate an aberrant maternal immune reaction against fetal HY-antigens in SRM. The results may shed light on the as-yet unknown immunological causes of SRM and may help understand the successful maternal acceptance of the fetal semi-allograft.

Naturally acquired tolerance and sensitization to minor histocompatibility antigens in healthy family members.

Bidirectional cell transfer during pregnancy frequently leads to postpartum persistence of allogeneic cells and alloimmune responses in both the mother and in her offspring. The life-long consequences of naturally acquired alloimmune reactivity are probably of importance for the outcome of allogeneic stem cell transplantation. We investigated the presence of CD8(pos) minor histocompatibility (H) antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (T(CTL)) and CD8(pos) minor H antigen-specific T regulator cells (T(REG)) in peripheral blood cells obtained from 17 minor H antigen-disparate mother-offspring pairs. Absence of minor H antigen-specific T(REG), as marked by the feasibility to expand T(CTL) from isolated tetramer(pos) populations, was observed in 6 mothers and 1 son. The presence of minor H alloantigen-specific T(REG) was observed in 4 mothers and 5 sons. These T(REG) were detected within isolated tetramer(dim) staining fractions and functioned in a CTLA-4-dependent fashion. Our study indicates that both T(CTL) and T(REG) mediated alloimmunity against minor H antigens may be present in healthy female and male hematopoietic stem cell donors, potentially influencing graft-versus-host reactivity in different ways.

Successful mismatched hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for pediatric hemoglobinopathy by using ATG and post-transplant cyclophosphamide.

The use of HLA-mismatched (un)related donors is historically associated with a higher incidence of transplant-related complications and mortality. However, the use of such donors may overcome the limited availability of HLA-matched donors for patients with ß-thalassemia major (TM) and sickle cell disease (SCD). We investigated hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) outcomes of pediatric TM and SCD patients treated with a mismatched donor using a treosulfan-based conditioning in combination with ATG and post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PT-CY) and compared these results to the clinical outcome of patients treated by matched donor HSCT without PT-CY. Thirty-eight children (n = 24 HLA-identical or 10/10-matched donors; n = 14 HLA-mismatched donors), who received a non-depleted bone marrow graft were included. Event-free survival (EFS) and GvHD were not higher in the mismatched PT-Cy group as compared to the matched group. Moreover, despite delayed neutrophil engraftment (day +22 vs. +26, p = 0.002) and immune recovery in the mismatched PT-Cy group, this did not result in more infectious complications. Therefore, we conclude that in the absence of an HLA-identical or a matched unrelated donor, HSCT with a mismatched unrelated or haploidentical donor in combination with ATG plus PT-CY can be considered a safe and effective treatment option for pediatric hemoglobinopathy patients.

Chemokine/chemokine receptor interactions in extramedullary leukaemia of the skin in childhood AML: differential roles for CCR2, CCR5, CXCR4 and CXCR7.

Chemokine receptor/ligand interactions orchestrate the migration of cells to peripheral tissues such as the skin. We analysed chemokine receptor expression by acute myeloid leukaemic (AML) cells present in peripheral blood (n = 7), bone marrow (n = 6), or skin (n = 11) obtained from 15 paediatric AML patients with skin involvement and in 10 AML patients without skin involvement. High percentages of circulating CCR2(pos) AML cells were only detected in patients with extramedullary disease. Skin-residing AML cells displayed a different set of receptors in situ, namely: CCR5, CXCR4, CXCR7 and CX3CR1. These results suggest the involvement of different chemokine/chemokine receptor interactions in homing and retention of AML blasts in the skin.