Immunoglobulin and B-cell disturbances in patients with chronic idiopathic neutropenia.

Chronic idiopathic neutropenia (CIN) is a granulocytic disorder associated with presence of activated, myelosuppressive T-lymphocytes. In the present study we have evaluated constituents of humoral immunity in CIN patients (n=48) compared to healthy controls (n=52). CIN patients displayed lower serum IgG levels due to a reduction in IgG1, IgG3, IgG4 but not IgG2, lower IgA and increased IgM levels compared to controls.

Minor populations of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria-type cells in patients with chronic idiopathic neutropenia.

Chronic idiopathic neutropenia (CIN) is an acquired disorder of granulopoiesis characterized by increased apoptosis of the bone marrow (BM) granulocytic progenitor cells under the influence of pro-inflammatory mediators and oligoclonal/monoclonal T-lymphocytes. Because patients with immune-mediated BM failure display frequently paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)-type cells in the peripheral blood (PB), we investigated the possible existence of PNH-type cells in 91 patients with CIN using flow cytometry. The patients displayed increased proportions of PNH-type glycophorin A /CD59 and glycophorin A /CD59 red blood cells (RBCs), FLAER /CD24 granulocytes, and FLAER /CD14 monocytes, compared to controls (n = 55).

High Frequency of Thyroid Disorders in Patients Presenting With Neutropenia to an Outpatient Hematology Clinic STROBE-Compliant Article.

Granulopoiesis abnormalities have been described in association with thyroid disorders (TD). However, data regarding systematic evaluation of adult neutropenia and concurrent or prior TD are scarce. To investigate the frequency of TD among patients presenting with neutropenia, and the immunophenotypic and immunologic profile of neutropenic patients with concomitant thyroidopathy.

Increased levels of the high mobility group box 1 protein sustain the inflammatory bone marrow microenvironment in patients with chronic idiopathic neutropenia via activation of toll-like receptor 4.

Purpose: Chronic idiopathic neutropenia (CIN) is a granulocytic disorder characterized by increased apoptosis of the bone marrow (BM) granulocytic progenitor cells and an inflammatory BM microenvironment. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible involvement of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in the production of pro-inflammatory mediators in CIN BM.

Methods: We evaluated the expression of TLRs in patient BM cell subsets and adherent cells of long-term BM cultures (LTBMCs) using flow cytometry.

Lymphopenia in patients with chronic idiopathic neutropenia is associated with decreased number of T-lymphocytes containing T-cell receptor excision circles.

Objectives: Chronic idiopathic neutropenia (CIN) is a disorder of granulopoiesis characterized by the presence of activated T-lymphocytes that induce/sustain apoptosis of bone marrow (BM) granulocytic progenitors. T-cell lymphopenia is commonly found in CIN. The aim of the study is to probe the mechanisms underlying T-cell lymphopenia in CIN.

Investigation of Toll-like receptors in the pathogenesis of fibrotic and granulomatous disorders: a bronchoalveolar lavage study.

Background And Aim: Toll-like receptors (TLRs), a key component of innate immunity, have recently been implicated in the pathogenesis of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs). As the involvement of TLRs has not yet been fully elucidated, the aim of the current study was to examine the expression of various TLRs in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of patients with ILDs.

Patients And Methods: We studied prospectively three groups of patients: (1) one group of 35 patients with fibrotic disorders, 16 with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and 19 with fibrotic interstitial pneumonias associated with collagen tissue disorders (CTD-IPs); (2) one group of 14 patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis; and (3) 11 normal subjects.

T-cell receptor Vβ repertoire analysis in patients with chronic idiopathic neutropenia demonstrates the presence of aberrant T-cell expansions.

Chronic idiopathic neutropenia (CIN) is a bone marrow (BM) disorder characterized by presence of activated T-lymphocytes in peripheral blood (PB) and BM. We investigated the pattern of T-cell responses in CIN by analyzing the T-cell receptor β-chain variable (Vβ) gene repertoire. Compared to controls, CIN patients displayed different patterns of Vβ gene usage in PB CD3(+), CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells.

Investigation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM MSCs) involvement in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF).

Background: Experimental data have provided evidence that progenitor cells of bone marrow (BM) origin may play a role in the fibrogenic process of the lung.

Objective: To probe the possible involvement of BM mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the pathophysiology of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) by investigating the molecular profile of these cells.

Design: BM MSCs were studied in 10 IPF patients and 10 healthy controls.

Rituximab therapy reduces activated B cells in both the peripheral blood and bone marrow of patients with rheumatoid arthritis: depletion of memory B cells correlates with clinical response.

Introduction: Bone marrow (BM) is an immunologically privileged site where activated autoantibody-producing B cells may survive for prolonged periods. We investigated the effect of rituximab (anti-CD20 mAb) in peripheral blood (PB) and BM B-cell and T-cell populations in active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Methods: Active RA patients received rituximab (1,000 mg) on days 1 and 15.

Micromolar taxol, with or without hyperthermia, induces mitotic catastrophe and cell necrosis in HeLa cells.

Purpose: Although the mode of action of taxol, when used in nanomolar or micromolar concentrations during long periods, is extensively studied, there are few data available on taxol-mediated cytotoxicity when the drug is applied for a short time alone or in combination with hyperthermia. We studied the effect of taxol and hyperthermia on cell cycle kinetics, proliferation, and mode of cell death in human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells, following a scheme which resembles the one currently used in regional chemotherapy.

Methods: Cells were incubated with micromolar doses of taxol for two h under normothermic or hyperthermic conditions and then cultured in drug-free medium for several days.

Impaired granulocytopoiesis in patients with chronic idiopathic neutropenia is associated with increased apoptosis of bone marrow myeloid progenitor cells.

To probe the pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying neutropenia in patients with chronic idiopathic neutropenia (CIN) with hypoplastic and left-shifted granulocytic series in the bone marrow (BM), we have studied granulocytopoiesis in 32 adults with CIN by evaluating the number and survival characteristics of cells in several stages of granulocyte differentiation using flow cytometry and BM culture assays. We found that patients with CIN displayed a low percentage of CD34(+)/CD33(+) cells, defective granulocyte colony-forming unit (CFU-G) growth potential of BM mononuclear or purified CD34(+) cells, and low CFU-G recovery in long-term BM cultures (LTBMCs), compared with controls (n = 46). A low percentage of CD34(+)/CD33(+) cells in patients was associated with accelerated apoptosis and Fas overexpression within this cell compartment compared with controls.

Bone marrow progenitor cell reserve and function and stromal cell function are defective in rheumatoid arthritis: evidence for a tumor necrosis factor alpha-mediated effect.

Based on previous reports for impaired hematopoiesis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and in view of the current interest in exploring the role of autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) as an alternative treatment in patients with resistant disease, we have evaluated bone marrow (BM) progenitor cell reserve and function and stromal cell function in 26 patients with active RA. BM progenitor cells were assessed using flow cytometry and clonogenic assays in short-term and long-term BM cultures (LTBMCs). BM stroma function was assessed by evaluating the capacity of preformed irradiated LTBMC stromal layers to support the growth of normal CD34(+) cells.