Heat-shock protein 90 inhibition in autoimmunity to type VII collagen: evidence that nonmalignant plasma cells are not therapeutic targets.

Blocking heat-shock protein 90 (Hsp90) induces death of malignant plasma cells by activation of the unfolded protein response, a signaling pathway activated by accumulation of misfolded proteins within the endoplasmic reticulum. We hypothesized that nontransformed plasma cells are also hypersensitive to Hsp90 inhibition because of their high amount of protein biosynthesis. To investigate this hypothesis, 2 different Hsp90 inhibitors, the geldanamycin derivative 17-DMAG and the nontoxic peptide derivative TCBL-145, were applied to mice with experimental epidermolysis bullosa acquisita, an autoimmune bullous disease characterized by autoantibodies against type VII collagen of the dermal-epidermal junction.

Increasing the economic efficacy of peripheral blood progenitor cell collections by monitoring peripheral blood CD34+ concentrations.

Background: After mobilization, the collection of peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPCs) can either be started a fixed number of days after having passed the white blood cell nadir (fixed-day scheme) or be based on monitoring of CD34+ cells. This study was conducted to compare both approaches and to assess possible financial consequences.

Study Design And Methods: For 29 patients daily enumeration of CD34+ cells was used to guide leukapheresis timing.

Comparison of flow cytometry vs. a haematology cell analyser-based method to guide the optimal time-point for peripheral blood stem cell apheresis.

Background And Objectives: For timing the onset of apheresis, parameters obtained by flow cytometry and by a haematological cell analyser were compared.

Materials And Methods: Haematopoietic cell counts (n = 159) were performed by two different methods; CD34 analyses by flow cytometry, immature myeloid information (IMI) and human progenitor cell counts (HPC) by a haematological cell analyser.

Results: Comparing the IMI total results with CD34+ analyses (n = 159) revealed a correlation of r = 0.

Platelet hemostasis capacity in smokers. In vitro function analyses with 3.2% citrated whole blood.

Introduction: Platelet function may be influenced by cigarette smoking. We therefore examined the effect of smoking on platelet hemostasis capacity (PHC) with an in vitro analyzer (PFA-100).

Methods And Results: Healthy blood donors (n=54) were included in the study and divided into four groups: nonsmoking males (n=14), nonsmoking females (n=14), smoking males (n=12) and smoking females (n=14).

Flow cytometry: the standard for monitoring the onset of apheresis and for the evaluation of stem and progenitor cell graft quality.

Several high-quality protocols exist that describe the methodological and technical aspects of the flow cytometric analyses of stem and progenitor cells. In addition, recent advances in automation and quantitative analyses show promising results. For further improvement of the test quality and more objective control, internal as well as external quality control is mandatory.