Novel prognostic molecular factors: a quantum leap in the field of chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Cytogenetic lesions do not completely explain clinical heterogeneity of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The 2016 revision of the World Health Organization classification 2008 indicated that molecular lesions of TP53, NOTCH1, SF3B1 and BIRC3 have potential clinical relevance and could be integrated into an updated risk profile. The negative clinical implications of TP53 disruptions are well constituted and patients with these mutations should be considered for novel, small molecule signal transduction inhibitors therapies. Mutations of NOTCH1, SF3B1 and BIRC3 are associated with poor prognosis. Patients with mutated SF3B1 or NOTCH1 genes present shorter time to first treatment compared to unmutated group. NOTCH1 mutations are related to a high risk of Richter’s syndrome transformation, especially in case of TP53 disruptions’ coexistence. Large studies on MYD88 mutations in CLL have not explained clearly their clinical importance.The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review on novel molecular aberrations identified in CLL.

Prognostyczna wartość mutacji NOTCH1 i MYD88 u pacjentów z przewlekłą białaczką limfocytową

Introduction: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is one of the most common type of leukemia in adults with highly heterogenous clinical course of the disease. Currently available prognostic factors are not fully efficient in predicting the course of CLL. New molecular mutations like NOTCH1 and MYD88 could partly explain the CLL heterogeneity and help in identifying clinically relevant groups of patients. Material and methods: NOTCH1 c.7544_7545delCT (n=200) in PEST domain (exon 34) and MYD88 L265P (n=60) mutations was investigated by (ARMS) amplification refractory mutation system. Expression of MYD88 in CLL was assessed in (PB) peripheral blood (n=60) and (BM) bone marrow (n=92) CLL patients and 25 (HVs) healthy volunteers using qRT-PCR. Results: NOTCH1 mutation occurred in 18/200 (9.0%) CLL patients. Patients harboring NOTCH1 mutations prevalently belonged to aggressive cases, i.e. cases with an unmutated IGVH gene status, expression of CD38 and ZAP-70. MYD88 mutation occured in 2/60 (3.3%) CLL patients. MYD88 mutations were strikingly enriched among patients expressing mutated IGVH genes. Our study demonstrated significantly higher PB MYD88 expression than in HVs and relevantly higher PB MYD88 expression in comparison with BM (respectively pWstęp. Przewlekła białaczka limfocytowa (PBL) jest najczęstszą postacią białaczki u dorosłych. Chorzy z PBL stanowią heterogenną grupę kliniczną. Obecnie dostępne czynniki rokownicze nie są do końca skuteczne w prognozowaniu przebiegu PBL. Nowe mutacje molekularne, takie jak NOTCH1 i MYD88, mogą częściowo wyjaśnić heterogenność PBL i być pomocne w klasyfikacji grup chorych już przy rozpoznaniu. Materiał i metody. Mutację NOTCH1 c.7544_7545delCT (n = 200) w domenie PEST (exon 34) i MYD88 L265P (n = 60) oznaczano metodą ARMS. Ekspresję MYD88 we krwi obwodowej (n = 60) i szpiku kostnym (n = 92) pacjentów z PBL i 25 zdrowych ochotników oceniano przy użyciu metody qRT-PCR. Wyniki. Mutację w genie NOTCH1 wykryto u 18/200 (9%) pacjentów z PBL. Pacjenci z mutacją NOTCH1 należeli do grupy z bardziej agresywnym przebiegiem choroby: niezmutowanymi łańcuchami IGVH, ekspresją CD38 i ZAP-70. Mutację MYD88 wykryto u 2/60 (3.3%) pacjentów z PBL i należeli oni do grupy ze zmutowanymi genami IGVH. Mediana ekspresji MYD88 we krwi obwodowej pacjentów z PBL była istotnie wyższa niż u zdrowych ochotników, a także istotnie wyższa niż w szpiku kostnym (odpowiednio p < 0,0001 i p = 0,0015). Nie stwierdzono korelacji między ekspresją MYD88 we krwi obwodowej i szpiku kostnym a ekspresją ZAP-70, CD38 oraz stanem mutacji IGVH. Wnioski. Mutacje w genie NOTCH1 są znacznie częściej wykrywane u pacjentów z niekorzystnymi parametrami komórek białaczkowych i mogą stanowić czynnik predykcyjny gorszego rokowania u pacjentów z PBL. Niezbędne są dalsze badania nad rolą mutacji MYD88 jak czynnika prognostycznego i predykcyjnego u pacjentów z PBL

Prognostic impact of NOTCH1 and MYD88 mutations in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients

Background. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is one of the most common types of leukemia in adults with highly heterogeneous clinical course of the disease. Currently available prognostic factors are not fully efficient in predicting the course of CLL. New molecular mutations such as NOTCH1 and MYD88 could partly explain the CLL heterogeneity and help in identifying clinically relevant groups of patients. Material and methods. NOTCH1 c.7544_7545delCT (n = 200) in PEST domain (exon 34) and MYD88 L265P (n = 60) mutations was investigated by amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS). Expression of MYD88 in CLL was assessed in peripheral blood (PB) (n = 60) and bone marrow (BM) (n = 92) of CLL patients and 25 healthy volunteers (HVs) using qRT-PCR. Results. NOTCH1 mutation occurred in 18/200 (9.0%) CLL patients. Patients harboring NOTCH1 mutations prevalently belonged to aggressive cases, i.e. cases with an unmutated IGVH gene status, expression of CD38 and ZAP-70. MYD88 mutation occurred in 2/60 (3.3%) CLL patients. MYD88 mutations were strikingly enriched among patients expressing mutated IGVH genes. Our study demonstrated significantly higher PB MYD88 expression than in HVs and relevantly higher PB MYD88 expression in comparison with BM (respectively p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0015). There was no correlation between MYD88 expression in PB and BM and expression of ZAP-70, CD38 and IGVH mutational status. Conclusions. NOTCH1 mutations are more frequently detected in cases with unfavorable biological markers and seem to be independent predictive markers for worse outcome in CLL patients. Further collaborative studies in CLL are obligate to study the prognostic and predictive relevance of MYD88 mutations and expression

Suppressed Programmed Death 1 Expression on CD4+ and CD8+ T Cells in Psoriatic Patients

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease mediated by T cell immunity. Programmed death 1 (PD-1), a coinhibitory receptor, plays an important role in immune regulation and maintaining peripheral tolerance. The aim of the study was to compare the expression of PD-1 on the peripheral T cells between psoriatic patients and healthy controls. The study included 75 psoriatic patients and 52 healthy volunteers. The percentages and absolute numbers of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+PD-1+, and CD8+PD-1+ T cells were analyzed using flow cytometry. The absolute numbers and percentages of CD4+PD-1+ and CD8+PD-1+ T cells were significantly decreased in the psoriatic patients in comparison with the control group. No significant correlations were found between the absolute numbers and percentages of CD4+PD-1+ or CD8+PD-1+ T cells and clinical characteristics of psoriasis. Decreased PD-1 expression on the T cells may be responsible for impaired negative regulation of immune response in psoriasis pathogenesis

Differential Function of a Novel Population of the CD19+CD24hiCD38hi Bregs in Psoriasis and Multiple Myeloma

Psoriasis (Ps), an autoimmune disease, and multiple myeloma (MM), a blood neoplasm, are characterized by immune dysregulation resulting from the imbalance between the effector and regulatory cells, including B regulatory (Breg) lymphocytes. Peripheral blood samples from 80 Ps patients, 17 relapsed/refractory MM patients before and after daratumumab (anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody) treatment, 23 healthy volunteers (HVs), and bone marrow samples from 59 MM patients were used in the study. Bregs were determined by flow cytometry using CD19, CD24, and CD38. Intracellular production of interleukin-10 (IL-10) was assessed by flow cytometry after CD40L, LPS, and CpG stimulation. IL-10 serum or plasma concentrations were tested using ELISA method. The percentage of CD19+CD24hiCD38hi Bregs was not different whereas the production of IL-10 in Bregs was significantly higher in Ps patients in comparison with HVs. The percentage of CD19+CD24hiCD38hi Bregs in MM patients was significantly higher than in HVs (p < 0.0001). The percentage of CD19+CD24hiCD38hi Bregs was significantly higher in MM patients with the ISS stage I (p = 0.0233) while IL-10 production in Bregs was significantly higher in ISS stage III (p = 0.0165). IL-10 serum or plasma concentration was significantly higher in Ps and MM patients when compared to HVs (p < 0.0001). Following the treatment with daratumumab the percentages of CD19+CD24hiCD38hi Bregs significantly decreased (p < 0.0003). Here, in the two opposite immune conditions, despite the differences in percentages of Bregs in Ps and MM we have identified some similarities in the IL-10 producing Bregs. Effective treatment of daratumumab besides the anti-myeloma effect was accompanied by the eradication of Bregs