HLA diversity in the Russian population assessed by next generation sequencing

Next generation sequencing is used to determine full-length sequences of HLA genes at the 4-field (allelic) resolution. The study was aimed at determining frequency and diversity of HLA alleles in a cohort of blood donors from the Registry of the National Research Center for Hematology who design ated themselves as Russians (including some not routinely typed variations in HLA gene regions). The studied population consisted of 1510 donors. HLA typing was performed by next generation sequencing. Libraries were performed with AllType NGS Amplification Kits (One Lambda, USA) and sequenced using MiSeq (Illumina, USA). Data analysis used the TypeStream Visual Software V2.0.0.68 (One Lambda, USA) and IPD-IMGT/HLA database 3.40.0.1. Arlequin 3.5 software was used for estimation of allele and haplotype frequencies, deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. 82 HLA-A, 156 HLA-В and 85 HLA-С alleles were identified with four-field resolution. 45 HLA-DRB1 and 18 HLA-DQB1 alleles were identified with 2-3-field resolution. Considerable HLA diversity was found among the donors self-designated as Russians: the population had large numbers of distinct alleles at each HLA gene, high percentage of alleles (25-32% of HLA class I) were revealed only once. Sufficient numbers of new alleles were registered which are absent in the IPD-IMGT/HLA database. Considerable allelic diversity in Russian population is due to low-incidence alleles. Despite this diversity, the majority of HLA alleles detected at each locus were common. Significant HLA diversity of the donors was connected with a large number of alleles with rare occurrence. The novel alleles identified in our study differed from the known alleles by single nucleotide substitutions. The most common alleles at the four-field level were as follows: A*02:01:01:01 (27.1%), C*07:02:01:03 (13.1%), A*03:01:01:01 (13.0%), B*07:02:01:01 (13.0%), A*01:01:01:01 (11.6%) and C*07:01:01:01/16 (10.4%). The HLA alleles, which are common for Russian populations, are not always common or well-documented alleles in present catalogues. The data obtained in this study may be used as a reference sample for estimation of HLA allele frequencies in Russian population, for proper frequency evaluation of specific alleles when searching donors for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, as well as for association studies between HLA alleles and different diseases, and for research in population genetics

Organisational and methodological challenges of CAR-T manufacturing in the Russian Federation

Despite their widespread clinical implementation, chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy products, including those manufactured by industrial processes, are still not legally available or used in the Russian Federation.The aim of the study was to describe the current challenges associated with specific aspects of CAR-T manufacturing in the Russian Federation and the potential ways to overcome them.This article discusses the regulatory, legal, organisational, and methodological challenges of CAR-T manufacturing. It analyses differences in the interpretation of CAR-T therapy products under national and supranational law. According to Russian Federal Law No. 180-FZ “On Biomedical Cell Products” of 23 June 2016, CAR-T therapy products are considered biomedical cell products. However, according to Decision No. 78 of the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission “On the Rules of Marketing Authorisation and Assessment of Medicinal Products for Human Use” of 3 November 2016, CAR-T therapy products are considered advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs). This article provides a detailed overview of the difficulties in obtaining starting biological materials (i.e. the inability to consider the patient as a donor) and transferring the materials for CAR-T manufacturing (i.e. the inapplicability of national law). In addition, this article describes export aspects specific to biological materials. The authors reckon that CAR-T therapy products should be categorised as ATMPs and that the corresponding active pharmaceutical ingredients, genetically modified autologous lymphocytes, should be defined as starting materials. Therefore, genetically modified autologous lymphocytes should be regulated under the requirements for starting materials for the manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients that are set forth in Decision No. 77 of the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission “On the Adoption of the Rules of Good Manufacturing Practice of the Eurasian Economic Union” of 3 November 2016. In conclusion, the authors recognise the need for national and supranational law harmonisation. For this task, it is necessary to establish expert groups that will include clinicians, legal experts, and representatives from the relevant authorities and the pharmaceutical industry

STUDY OF MINIMAL RESIDUAL DISEASE BY MULTICOLOR FLOW CYTOMETRY IN MULTIPLE MYELOMA AFTER AUTOLOGOUS HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELL TRANSPLANTATION

The frequency of achieving complete remission, as well as overall and disease-free survival, in multiple myeloma (MM) had increased due to introduction in MM treatment regimens of high-dose chemotherapy with following autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT). However the number of relapses remains high, caused by persistence of residual tumor cells, i.e., the presence of minimal residual disease (MRD). One of the methods for MRD study is multicolor flow cytometry (MFC) where abnormal expression of surface antigens on myeloma plasma cells (PC) is determined. The aim of our study was to investigate the MRD by MFC before and after ASCT, the frequency of MRD-negative status achievement in complete remission (CR) patients at +100 days after ASCT and the frequency of abnormal expressed antigens on myeloma plasma cells. The study included40 MMpatients in CR at +100 days after ASCT and showed that the most common aberrations of PC were: abnormal absence of CD19 and/or CD27, decreased expression of CD38 and abnormal presence of CD56. The proportion of myeloma PCs from all bone marrow cells decreased significantly after ASCT: 20 % of patients acquired MRD-negative status, 10 % had a decrease in the number of abnormal PCs by one fold. Analysis of probability of immunochemical relapse showed that the worst prognosis was in patients with MRD-positive status before and after ASCT. During the MRD monitoring within 3-18 months, MRD-relapses were detected with the subsequent development of immunochemical relapse. The detection MRD in the dynamics is more informative than the study at only one step of therapy. It may help to select more adequate treatment for patient with multiple myeloma in each specific case

Организационно-методические проблемы производства CAR-T в Российской Федерации

Despite their widespread clinical implementation, chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy products, including those manufactured by industrial processes, are still not legally available or used in the Russian Federation.The aim of the study was to describe the current challenges associated with specific aspects of CAR-T manufacturing in the Russian Federation and the potential ways to overcome them.This article discusses the regulatory, legal, organisational, and methodological challenges of CAR-T manufacturing. It analyses differences in the interpretation of CAR-T therapy products under national and supranational law. According to Russian Federal Law No. 180-FZ “On Biomedical Cell Products” of 23 June 2016, CAR-T therapy products are considered biomedical cell products. However, according to Decision No. 78 of the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission “On the Rules of Marketing Authorisation and Assessment of Medicinal Products for Human Use” of 3 November 2016, CAR-T therapy products are considered advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs). This article provides a detailed overview of the difficulties in obtaining starting biological materials (i.e. the inability to consider the patient as a donor) and transferring the materials for CAR-T manufacturing (i.e. the inapplicability of national law). In addition, this article describes export aspects specific to biological materials. The authors reckon that CAR-T therapy products should be categorised as ATMPs and that the corresponding active pharmaceutical ingredients, genetically modified autologous lymphocytes, should be defined as starting materials. Therefore, genetically modified autologous lymphocytes should be regulated under the requirements for starting materials for the manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients that are set forth in Decision No. 77 of the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission “On the Adoption of the Rules of Good Manufacturing Practice of the Eurasian Economic Union” of 3 November 2016. In conclusion, the authors recognise the need for national and supranational law harmonisation. For this task, it is necessary to establish expert groups that will include clinicians, legal experts, and representatives from the relevant authorities and the pharmaceutical industry.Несмотря на широкое внедрение в клиническую практику терапии Т-клетками с химерным антигенным рецептором (chimeric antigen receptor T-cell, CAR-T), на территории Российской Федерации данные препараты до сих пор официально не представлены и не используются, в том числе и произведенные промышленным (индустриальным) способом.Цель работы — описание текущих проблем, связанных с особенностями производства CAR-T в Российской Федерации, и потенциальных путей их решения.Рассмотрены трудности, связанные c регуляторными, юридическими и организационно-методическими аспектами производства CAR-T. Проанализированы расхождения в трактовке понятия CAR-T в национальном и наднациональном праве: как биомедицинского клеточного продукта согласно Федеральному закону от 23.06.2016 № 180-ФЗ «О биомедицинских клеточных продуктах» и как высокотехнологического лекарственного препарата (ВТЛП) согласно Решению Совета Евразийской экономической комиссии от 03.11.2016 № 78 «О Правилах регистрации и экспертизы лекарственных средств для медицинского применения». Подробно рассмотрены трудности на этапе получения исходного биологического материала (невозможность рассматривать пациента как донора биологического материала); на этапе передачи биологического материала для производства CAR-T (невозможность применения национального права); особенности экспорта биологического материала. По мнению авторов статьи, CAR-T следует относить к ВТЛП, активной фармацевтической субстанцией (АФС) которых являются генетически модифицированные аутологичные лимфоциты, а последние должны быть определены как «исходный материал», и к ним должны применяться требования как к исходному материалу для производства АФС, указанные в Решении Совета Евразийской экономической комиссии от 03.11.2016 № 77 «Об утверждении Правил надлежащей производственной практики Евразийского экономического союза». Сделано заключение о необходимости гармонизации национального и наднационального права, что требует формирования экспертных групп, объединяющих врачей-клиницистов, специалистов в области права, представителей профильных ведомств и фармацевтической индустрии

INVESTIGATION OF CYTOKINE PROFILE IN PATIENTS WITH REACTIVE ARTHRITIS

Abstract. Pathogenesis of reactive arthritis (ReA) is not clear yet. Several trials suggest that increased production of proinflammatory cytokines is responsible for development of arthritis in ReA, while other studies report that Th1 cytokine response in ReA is impaired in favor of Th2 response. The aim of our study was to investigate serum levels of cytokines IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, TNFα, IFNγ and IL-1Ra in the patients with ReA of different etiology, as compared with infection-related arthritis. The results of our study had demonstrated that serum levels of IL-1β and TNFα in the patients with ReA were significantly higher, whereas IL-1Ra, IL-4, IL-6 proved to be significantly lower than in healthy controls. Serum levels of IL-6 were significantly higher in patients with chronic ReA, as compared to the cases of acute and recurrent ReA. No significant differences in cytokine profiles were found between the patients with ReA, and the persons with infection-related arthritis. The data obtained are, generally, suggestive for proinflammatory Th1 cytokine profile in ReA patients studied, this confirming the mostly assumed pathogenetic hypothesis for reactive arthritis where an underlying cytokine imbalance is suggested. (Med. Immunol., 2008, vol. 10, N 2-3, pp 167-172)

REFRACTORINESS TO DONOR PLATELETS TRANSFUSION IN PATIENTS WITH APLASTIC ANEMIA AND HEMOBLASTOSIS

Refractoriness to transfusions of platelet concentrates (PC) adversely affects the conduct of complex therapy in hematological patients. Individual selection of platelets is recommended for such patients. In cases of high degree of alloimmunization with the formation of polyspecific antibodies, when individual selection is difficult, procedures plasmapheresis (PPs) is included in the treatment program.Aims: to evaluate the effectiveness of PC transfusions by individual selection in patients refractory to transfusions and the use of PPs as a second line therapy in combination with individual platelet selection.Materials and methods: from September 2015 to December 2017, 91 patients with refractory to PC transfusions from 1263 patients who received PC transfusion were observed in the center’s clinics. The median age was 43 (18–71) years. M/F – 38/53. Patients: 20 – aplastic anemia (AA), 17 – myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), 45 – acute myeloid leukemia (AML), 9 – acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). All patients underwent PC transfusion by individual selection (HLA/HPA) Immucor’s Capture-P solid phase technology. In 28 (30 %) of 91 patients, due to the inability to select, there was a need for PP as a second line therapy. Patients: AA – 4 (20 %); MDS – 8 (47 %); AML – 12 (26 %); ALL– 4 (44 %). The median age was 48 (23–71) years. M/F – 8/20. From 2 to 15 procedures were performed (on average – 6) for each patient. All patients received PC transfusions by individual selection by cross-matching immediately after the PP procedure. The efficacy of PC transfusions was assessed by Absolute Platelet Increment (API) and Corrected Count Increment (CCI), relief of hemorrhagic syndrome.Results: in 26 of 28 refractory to PC transfusions patients, in the absence of compatible donor platelets, carrying out PPs in combination with subsequent individual platelet selection promoted relief of hemorrhagic syndrome, increase in API from 3.3 × 109/L at 29.5 × 109/L and CCI from 1.3 to 10.7. Against the background of PPs, combined with individual selection, the degree of alloimmunization (the percentage of incompatible pairs) decreased on average: AA (n = 4) – from 91.7 to 50.2 %; MDS (n = 8) – from 89.6 to 31.6 %; AML (n = 12) – 86.0 to 40.5 % and ALL (n = 4) – from 91.7 to 37.7 %. In 2 patients with a high degree of alloimmunization and after carrying out PPs, it was not possible to select compatible platelets, PC transfusions were ineffective (API = 5 × 109/L, CCI = 1), and hemorrhagic syndrome was not completely managed, but its severity was reduced.Conclusions. With the development of refractoriness to PC transfusions and the ineffectiveness of individual platelet selection, PPs should be used as the second line of therapy, which, combined with individual selection, increases the likelihood of compatible donor-recipient pairs and increases the clinical efficacy of PC transfusions. When PPs is ineffective in combination with individual selection, it is necessary to exclude the syndrome of increased consumption and other mechanisms of refractoriness

Anemia in inflammatory bowel diseases: the approaches to its diagnosis, treatment and prevention

Anemia is a frequent systemic complication and extra-intestinal manifestation of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Despite significant progress in IBD treatment, late diagnosis and insufficient correction of concomitant anemia remain a problem in routine clinical practice. The review describes the main pathophysiological mechanisms of IBD-associated anemia, such as iron deficiency, chronic inflammation (anemia of chronic disease) and B9 and B12 deficiencies. The authors highlight the main diagnostic principles of these conditions, present the strategy for their differential diagnosis, describe the state-of-theart approaches to the correction of iron-deficient anemia in IBD, and delineate the role of oral and parenteral medications for replacement therapy. Optimal treatment goals and prevention methods of an iron-deficient condition are given. Special attention is focused on the principles on red cell mass transfusions in acute massive blood loss. The authors describe the main differentiating features of anemia of chronic disease and its treatment in IBD patients with various grades of the inflammation. The paper contains the indications and treatment regimens for B12 and foliate-deficient anemia with consideration of the IBD course. The authors of the article are members of the Working Group of the Russian Society on the study of IBD and believe that the literature analysis performed would allow for its use to issue the Russian clinical guidelines on the management of patients with anemia in ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease

Detection of platelet-associated immunoglobulins and complement system components in patients with aplastic anemia and hemoblastosis

Background. In addition to anti-HLA-I and anti-HPA-antibodies and specific cytotoxic T-lymphocytes, another cause of immune refractoriness to donor's platelet transfusions could be a platelet-associated different classes immunoglobulins PAIg (G, M, A) and C3 / C4‑components of complement system (PAC3, PAC4). These markers can be detected by flow cytofluorometry of double-stained platelets. The fixation density of immunoglobulins and components of complement systems were measured by the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI).Objective: to study additional factors that aggravate the course of refractoriness to donor's platelet transfusions in patients with aplastic anemia (AA) and hemoblastosis.Materials and methods. 77 patients (AA – 47, myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) – 10, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) – 20) admitted to National Research Centre for Hematology during 11.09.2016–04.28.2018 were enrolled in the study. M / f ratio was 33 / 44, median age was 36 yrs. (19–71 yrs.). Plasmapheresis and cross-matching for PRP selection were used for patients with refractoriness to donor's platelet transfusion. PAIg (G, M, A) and PAC3 / C4 detection and density (MFI) were evaluated in all patients by flow cytofluorometry of doublestained platelets (CD41a-PE; IgA, M, G-FITC; C3 / C4‑FITC) and MFI measurement. Patients with AA were investigated on different stages of therapy and if refractoriness to donor's platelet transfusion is developed. Blood donors (n = 28) MFI measurement results were established as negative control.Results. It was found that MFI PAIgG/M/А and PAC3/С4 was higher in all groups of the patients (АА, MDS, AML), as compared with donors. MFI of PAIgM and PAIgA in patients were significant higher than MFI of PAIgG and PAC3 / C4. Combination of PAIgM / A, PAIgM / C3 / C4 and PAIgA / C3 / C4 were more frequent. Multiple transfusions of PRP were associated with PAIgA and PAC3 detection. Development of refractoriness to donor's platelet transfusions was accompanied by alloantibodies (HLA-I, HPA) and PAIgM, PAC4 detection. In patients of AA group during development of refractoriness to donor's platelet transfusions and multiple infection complications the high density of PAIgM and PAIgA were identified. Relapse of AA was accompanied MFI of PAC3 density increment.Conclusion. In addition to application of a certain transfusion therapy algorithm it is also necessary to detect PAIg (G, M, A) and PAC3 / C4 for prediction of severe refractoriness to donor's platelet transfusions

Subpopulations of mobilized hematopoietic stem cells in patients with hematological malignances and donors: expression of CD38, HLA-DR and CD143

The study objective is to investigate the features of subpopulational composition of mobilized hematopoietic stem cells in peripheral blood (PB) and leukocyte concentrates (LC) in adult patients with oncohematological pathology and donors.Materials and methods. In 80 patients with hemoblastoses, expression of CD38, HLA-DR and CD143 (angiotensin-converting enzyme) was measured in PB and LC CD34+CD45low cells. The control group included 10 PB and 14 LC samples from healthy donors. Analysis of PB was performed prior to mobilization of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and on the day of leukapheresis prior to HSC collection. LC samples were examined at day 1 after HSC collection.Results. CD143 is expressed on CD34+CD45low cells both prior to mobilization and after it in all patients and donors, but CD34+CD45lowCD143+ cell counts varied depending on diagnosis and mobilization regimen. CD143+ expression on CD34+CD45low cells was significantly higher in patients who received combination of chemotherapy and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor compared to donors and patients with multiple myeloma who received only granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. Along with elevated CD34+CD45low cell count after hematopoiesis stimulation, CD34+CD45lowCD143+ cell counts also increased. It was shown that mobilized HSC almost completely lacks a fraction of early CD34+CD45low progenitor cells not expressing CD38, HLA-DR. Prior to hematopoiesis stimulation among CD34+CD45low cells, CD38+HLADR–cell fractions are prevalent, but after mobilization CD38–HLA-DR+ cell counts increased. No differences between CD34+CD45lowCD143+cell counts in patients with multiple myeloma depending on disease status, sex, age or number of chemotherapy courses prior to HSC mobilizationwere observed.Conclusion. Expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme on CD34+ cells in PB before and after HSC mobilization and in LC was observed. The cell counts varied depending on diagnosis and mobilization regimen