Highly proliferative and functional PD-1 and TIM-3 T cells are transiently increased in multiple myeloma following autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

The aim of our prospective study was to assess recovery dynamics and functional characteristics of PD-1 and TIM-3 T cells in multiple myeloma (MM) patients following high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT). Peripheral blood, autograft and bone marrow samples were obtained from 46 MM patients before conditioning, at the engraftment, following six and 12 months post-transplant. Frequencies of CD4 and CD8 T cells expressing PD-1 and TIM-3 and intracellular expression of Ki-67 and Granzyme B were evaluated.

Quantitative and functional characteristics of circulating and bone marrow PD-1- and TIM-3-positive T cells in treated multiple myeloma patients.

The aim of the present work was to evaluate counts and functional properties of PD-1 and TIM-3 T cells in peripheral blood (PB) and bone marrow (BM) of multiple myeloma (MM) patients following the induction therapy. Sixty patients were enrolled in the study, CD4 and CD8 T cells expressing PD-1 and TIM-3, intracellular production of IFNγ and intracellular expression of Granzyme B were assessed. Relative counts of the majority of circulating PD-1, TIM-3 and PD-1TIM-3 T cells were higher in MM patients with disease progression compared with individuals in remission.

Increased circulating CD3 T cells are associated with early relapse following autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma.

Non-malignant host immune cells are the main substrate in classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) microenvironment. Reconstitution of lymphocyte populations following the high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) can support tumor growth in HL patients. We investigated recovery dynamics of circulating CD3, CD4, CD8, CD16/CD56, CD19, CD4FOXP3 lymphocytes following auto-HSCT in 79 HL patients and assessed relationship between these populations and the development of early relapse.

Increased circulating CD4FOXP3 T cells associate with early relapse following autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in multiple myeloma patients.

Unlabelled: We investigated dynamics of CD4FOXP3 T cell recovery following the high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) in multiple myeloma (MM) patients. Circulating CD4FOXP3 T cells of 79 MM patients were evaluated using flow cytometry before HDC with auto-HSCT, at the day of engraftment, and following 6 and 12 months. Percentage of CD4FOXP3 T cells restored rapidly following auto-HSCT, became higher than pre-transplant level at the day of engraftment and then subsequently decreased for a year.

CD4 memory T cells retain surface expression of CD31 independently of thymic function in patients with lymphoproliferative disorders following autologous hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation.

High-dose chemotherapy with autologous hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (AHSCT) causes severe and long-lasting immunodeficiency in patients with lymphoproliferative disorders. The thymus begins to restore the T-cell repertoire approximately from the sixth month post-transplant. We assessed the dynamics of post-transplant recovery of CD4CD45RACD31 T cells, "recent thymic emigrants" (RTEs), and a poorly described subtype of CD4CD45RACD31 T cells in 90 patients with lymphoproliferative disorders following high-dose chemotherapy with AHSCT.

Gene expression profiling of tumor-initiating stem cells from mouse Krebs-2 carcinoma using a novel marker of poorly differentiated cells.

Using the ability of poorly differentiated cells to natively internalize fragments of extracellular double-stranded DNA as a marker, we isolated a tumorigenic subpopulation present in Krebs-2 ascites that demonstrated the features of tumor-inducing cancer stem cells. Having combined TAMRA-labeled DNA probe and the power of RNA-seq technology, we identified a set of 168 genes specifically expressed in TAMRA-positive cells (tumor-initiating stem cells), these genes remaining silent in TAMRA-negative cancer cells. TAMRA+ cells displayed gene expression signatures characteristic of both stem cells and cancer cells.

A strategy to eradicate well-developed Krebs-2 ascites in mice.

We describe the strategy, which allows curing experimental mice engrafted with Krebs-2 ascites. The strategy is based on the facts that i) Krebs-2 tumor-initiating stem cells (TISCs) are naturally capable of internalizing fragments of extracellular double-stranded DNA (dsDNA); ii) upon delivery into TISCs, these dsDNA fragments interfere with the on-going DNA repair process so that TISCs either die or lose their tumorigenic potential. The following 3-step regimen of therapeutic procedures leading to eradication of Krebs-2 ascites is considered.

Intraocular cytokines in retinal vein occlusion and its relation to the efficiency of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy.

Purpose: To analyze the change in the concentration of intraocular cytokines (ICs) in patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO) before and after intravitreal ranibizumab therapy (IVR), and to find the correlations of IC with clinical activity of RVO and efficiency of treatment.

Materials And Methods: Forty-four patients aged 46-79 years old (mean age: 60.7 ± 7.

Clinical experience with autologous M2 macrophages in children with severe cerebral palsy.

Stem cell-based therapy is considered to be a new approach for the treatment of cerebral palsy (CP). Given the potent anti-inflammatory activity and high regenerative potential of M2 macrophages, these cells may be an alternative source for cell transplantation. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of autologous M2 macrophages, we conducted a pilot clinical trial in 21 children with severe CP.

Interferon alpha induces generation of semi-mature dendritic cells with high pro-inflammatory and cytotoxic potential.

Dendritic cell-based vaccines are considered as a new and promising immunotherapeutic approach for cancer treatment. However, the choice of optimal protocol of dendritic cell generation in vitro represents the major challenge. Here, we compared phenotype and functional characteristics of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) generated in the presence of IL-4/GM-CSF (IL4-DCs) and IFNα/GM-CSF (IFN-DCs).

Identification of cancer stem cells and a strategy for their elimination.

It has been established previously that up to 40% of mouse CD34(+) hematopoietic stem cells are capable of internalizing exogenous dsDNA fragments both in vivo and ex vivo. Importantly, when mice are treated with a combination of cyclophosphamide and dsDNA, the repair of interstrand crosslinks in hematopoietic progenitors is attenuated, and their pluripotency is altered. Here we show for the first time that among various actively proliferating mammalian cell populations there are subpopulations capable of internalizing dsDNA fragments.

Cytotoxic activity of ex-vivo generated IFNα-induced monocyte-derived dendritic cells in brain glioma patients.

Recent studies have revealed that besides the important role in triggering the adoptive antitumor immunity, dendritic cells (DCs) possess direct cytotoxic antitumor activity. Here, we investigated brain glioma patient monocyte-derived DCs generated in the presence of IFNα and GM-CSF (IFN-DCs). These DCs were characterized by reduced cytotoxic activity against TRAIL-resistant HEp-2 cells.

Cytotoxic activity of dendritic cells as a possible mechanism of negative regulation of T lymphocytes in pulmonary tuberculosis.

The PD-1/B7-H1-mediated induction of T cell apoptosis/anergy as a possible mechanism of immune response failure was studied in 76 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) with normal and low-proliferative response to antigens of M. tuberculosis (purified protein derivative (PPD)). It was revealed that dendritic cells (DCs), generated in vitro from patient blood monocytes with GM-CSF + IFN-α, were characterized by increased B7-H1 expression, upproduction of IL-10, and reducing of allostimulatory activity in mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC).

Peripheral T Cell Apoptosis and Its Role in Generalized Bacterial Infections: A Minireview.

In the present review we have attempted to analyze recent findings concerning apoptosis of mature peripheral T cells. The great attention is made to the factors underlying resistance or sensitivity of mature T lymphocytes to activation-induced cell death. The role of preactivation and altered costimulation is discussed in this regard.

Inflammatory Syndromes (SIRS, MARS, CARS) in Patients with Surgical Infection.

In the present study 37 patients with surgical infection were investigated and a new set of diagnostic tests for detection of major syndromes of systemic inflammation - systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), compensatory anti-inflammatory response syndrome (CARS) and mixed antagonist response syndrome (MARS) - was developed. In summary, we have demonstrated that patients with surgical infection were characterized by an immunodeficiency with significant reduction of mitogen-induced proliferation and IL-2/IL-4 production in vitro combined with decrease of HLA DR(+) monocytes. Furthermore, it was revealed that the patient's serum exhibited substantially enhanced suppressive and inflammatory activities as well as the level of C-reactive protein.

T Cell Functional Disturbances in Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

The investigations of 38 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PT) revealed combined T cell and monocyte functional disturbances. Indeed, the percentages of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T lymphocytes, proliferative response and IL-2 production, as well as the percentages of HLA DR(+) monocytes and IL-1beta production were significantly decreased in PT patients as compared with normal individuals. Herewith the absolute T lymphocyte number did not undergo the pronounced changes.

IL-2-Activated Killer Cells and Native Cytokines in Treatment of Patients with Advanced Cancer.

We evaluated the efficiency/tolerability of and the immunological changes induced by the adoptive immunotherapy (AIT) with IL-2-activated killer cells, and preparation of native cytokines from swine spleen (PSS) in treatment of 20 patients with advanced cancer (10 patients with primary lung cancer; 3 with metastatic melanoma; 2 with advanced neuroblastoma; 2 with ovarian cancer; renal cancer; gastric adenocarcinoma; and colorectal cancer). The partial/minor response of duration period 2-10 months was observed in 20% of patients. 2/4 patients, who underwent partial surgical tumor resection and following AIT course, sustained the event-free survival for more than 24 months.