Differentiation of follicular dendritic sarcoma cells into functional myeloid-dendritic cell-like elements.

In a rare case of follicluar dendritic cell sarcoma, malignant cells were isolated and cultured in the presence of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin 4 (IL-4) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). After 14 d, 15% of neoplastic cells differentiated into myeloid-dendritic cell-like elements as demonstrated by immunological and functional characteristics. These cells showed the same cytogenetic abnormality of the malignant clone (fluorescence in situ hybridisation analysis performed on CD1a+ cells) and were able to induce allogenic T-cell proliferation in the mixed leucocyte reaction. These data may indicate that antigen presenting capacity could be a functional state inducible in cellular elements which are believed not to be of hemopoietic origin. Further studies are warranted to confirm these findings and to clarify the possibility to use these cells to generate specific anti-tumoral immune responses

Differentiation of follicular dendritic sarcoma cells into functional myeloid-dendritic cell-like elements.

In a rare case of follicluar dendritic cell sarcoma, malignant cells were isolated and cultured in the presence of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin 4 (IL-4) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). After 14 d, 15% of neoplastic cells differentiated into myeloid-dendritic cell-like elements as demonstrated by immunological and functional characteristics. These cells showed the same cytogenetic abnormality of the malignant clone (fluorescence in situ hybridisation analysis performed on CD1a+ cells) and were able to induce allogenic T-cell proliferation in the mixed leucocyte reaction. These data may indicate that antigen presenting capacity could be a functional state inducible in cellular elements which are believed not to be of hemopoietic origin. Further studies are warranted to confirm these findings and to clarify the possibility to use these cells to generate specific anti-tumoral immune responses

In patients with myelodysplastic syndromes response to rHuEPO and G-CSF treatment is related to an increase of cytogenetically normal CD34 cells.

Abstract: The in vivo effect of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) combined treatment on CD34(+) cells was evaluated by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in 13 myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients with known cytogenetic abnormalities. After treatment, responsive patients presented a significantly lower proportion of FISH abnormal CD34(+) cells than before treatment (P = 0.003), and in comparison with unresponsive cases (P = 0.007). Response to treatment was associated with a reduced degree of apoptosis in CD34(+) cells (P = 0.021): however, no difference in telomere length was observed in responsive patients after growth factor administration. Although the number of patients analysed was relatively small, the present data suggest that, in MDS patients, response to rHuEpo and G-CSF may be related to the proliferation of karyotypically normal but potentially defective CD34(+) progenitor cell

CD34(+) and endothelial progenitor cells in patients with various degrees of congestive heart failure

BACKGROUND: Peripheral blood CD34(+) cells and circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) increase in myocardial infarction and vascular injuries as a reflection of endothelial damage. Despite the occurrence of endothelial dysfunction in heart failure (HF), no data are available on EPC mobilization in this setting. We investigated the pattern of CD34(+) cells and EPC mobilization during HF and their correlation with the severity and origin of the disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: Peripheral blood CD34(+) cells (n=91) and EPCs (n=41), assessed both as CD34(+) cells coexpressing AC133 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor-2 and as endothelial colony-forming units, were studied in HF patients (mean age 67+/-11 years) and 45 gender- and age-matched controls. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and its receptors (sTNFR-1 and sTNFR-2), VEGF, stromal derived factor-1 (SDF-1), granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), and B-type natriuretic peptide were also measured. CD34(+) cells, EPCs, TNF-alpha and receptors, VEGF, SDF-1, and B-type natriuretic peptide were increased in HF. CD34(+) cells and EPCs were inversely related to functional class and to TNF-alpha, being decreased in New York Heart Association class IV compared with class I and II and controls. No role was found for the origin of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: CD34(+) cells and EPC mobilization occurs in HF and shows a biphasic response, with elevation and depression in the early and advanced phases, respectively. This could be related to the myelosuppressive role of TNF-alpha

Long-term study on symptomless human metapneumovirus infection in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.

From October 2004 through October 2006 a study was performed to evaluate the prevalence of human Metapneumovirus (hMPV) infection in adult hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients. Sequential nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPA) were collected independently from respiratory symptoms and evaluated for hMPV-RNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequence analysis. Results indicate epidemiological and molecular differences between the 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 periods and that hMPV seems not to symptomatically affect HSCT patients or cause late respiratory sequelae. In addition, data collected suggest a hospital origin of hMPV infection in most HSCT patients during the 2004-2005 period

Use of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor during acute myocardial infarction to enhance bone marrow stem cell mobilization in humans: clinical and angiographic safety profile

Use of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor during acute myocardial infarction to enhance bone marrow stem cell mobilization in humans: clinical and angiographic safety profil