Mastocytosis is a complex heterogenous multisystem disorder that is characterized by pathologic activation or accumulation of neoplastic mast cells (MCs) in one or more organs. This clonal MC expansion is often associated with a somatic gain-of-function mutation (D816V in most of the cases) in the KIT gene, encoding for the MC surface receptor KIT (CD117), a stem cell growth factor receptor. Based on clinical and biochemical criteria, the World Health Organization (WHO) divided mastocytosis into different subclasses.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Uncertainties remain about the molecular mechanisms governing clonal mast cell disorders (CMCD) and anaphylaxis.
Objective: This study aims at comparing the burden, phenotype and behavior of mast cells (MCs) and basophils in patients with CMCD with wasp venom anaphylaxis (CMCD/WVA), CMCD patients without anaphylaxis (CMCD/ANA), patients with an elevated baseline serum tryptase (EBST), patients with wasp venom anaphylaxis without CMCD (WVA) and patients with a non-mast cell haematological pathology (NMHP).
Methods: This study included 20 patients with CMCD/WVA, 24 with CMCD/ANA, 19 with WVA, 6 with EBST and 5 with NMHP.
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare but potentially life-threatening thrombotic microangiopathy, characterized by disseminated thrombus formation in the microvasculature, causing severe organ failure. Immune-mediated TTP (iTTP) is occasionally described after vaccination, especially against viral agents. We report a case of a 38-year-old woman with a de novo iTTP after exposure to the mRNA-based anti-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine produced by Pfizer-BioNTech.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Anaphylaxis is frequent in patients suffering from primary mast cell disorders (PMCDs). In patients without mastocytosis in the skin (MIS) and a baseline serum tryptase (bST) less than 30 ng/mL, the diagnosis of PMCD is challenging. In these patients, detection of the KIT D816V mutation in peripheral blood (PB) has been suggested as screening tool for a PMCD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAcute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a hematologic malignancy characterized by the rapid and uncontrolled clonal growth of myeloid lineage cells in the bone marrow. The advent of oral, selective inhibitors of the B-cell leukemia/lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) apoptosis pathway, such as venetoclax, will likely induce a paradigm shift in the treatment of AML. However, the high cost of this treatment and the risk of additive toxicity when used in combination with standard chemotherapy represent limitations to its use and underscore the need to identify which patients are most-and least-likely to benefit from incorporation of venetoclax into the treatment regimen.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRelapse is a major problem in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and adversely affects survival. In this phase 2 study, we investigated the effect of vaccination with dendritic cells (DCs) electroporated with Wilms' tumor 1 () messenger RNA (mRNA) as postremission treatment in 30 patients with AML at very high risk of relapse. There was a demonstrable antileukemic response in 13 patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Non-invasive prenatal tests (NIPTs) interrogating the complete genome are able to detect not only fetal trisomy 13, 18 or 21 but additionally provide information on other (sub)chromosomal aberrations that can be fetal or maternal in origin. We demonstrate that in a subset of cases, this information is clinically relevant and should be reported to ensure adequate follow-up.
Method: Genome-wide NIPT was carried out and followed by a software analysis pipeline optimized to detect subchromosomal aberrations.
Dipeptide derivatives bearing various P2 residues and pyrrolidine derivatives as P1 mimics were evaluated in order to identify lead structures for the development of DPP8 and DPP9 inhibitors. Structure-activity-relationship data obtained in this way led to the preparation of a series of alpha-aminoacyl ((2S, 4S)-4-azido-2-cyanopyrrolidines). These compounds were shown to be nanomolar DPP8/9 inhibitors with modest overall selectivity toward DPP IV and DPP II.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDipeptide-derived compounds, bearing various P2 residues and a diaryl pyrrolidin-2-yl phosphonate at the P1 position, were evaluated as dipeptidyl peptidase 8 (DPP8) inhibitors. With these products, irreversible inhibition of DPP8 was observed. To obtain inhibitors with an improved activity and selectivity profile, a set of selected analogues containing a diaryl isoindolin-1-ylphosphonate at P1 was synthesized and evaluated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAn increasing number of biological processes appear to be regulated by Pro-specific N-terminal processing. The proline-specific dipeptidyl peptidases (DPPs) like DPPIV, fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAP), DPPII, DPP8 and DPP9, because of their preference for cleavage after X-Pro in vitro, are likely to be involved in many of these processes. These DPPs are emerging as an important protease family with roles in the regulation of signaling by peptide hormones.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe proline-specific dipeptidyl peptidases (DPPs) are emerging as a protease family with important roles in the regulation of signaling by peptide hormones. Inhibitors of DPPs have an intriguing, therapeutic potential, with clinical efficacy seen in patients with diabetes. Until now, only recombinant forms of DPP8 and DPP9 have been characterized.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn this paper, we report the synthesis of diastereomerically pure N-(4-substituted-2,4-diaminobutanoyl)piperidines. These compounds were prepared to investigate the influence of the 4-substitution on the dipeptidyl peptidase II (DPP II) activity and selectivity of the parent N-(2,4-diaminobutanoyl)piperidine. The (4S)-methyl compound showed subnanomolar inhibition, comparable with the parent compound.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVildagliptin (NVP-LAF237/(2S)-{[(3-hydroxyadamantan-1-yl)amino]acetyl}-pyrrolidine-2-carbonitrile) was described as a potent, selective and orally bio-available dipeptidyl-peptidase IV (DPP IV, EC 3.4.14.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe feasibility of the fluoro-olefin function as a peptidomimetic group in inhibitors for dipeptidyl peptidase IV and II (DPP IV and DPP II) is investigated by evaluation of N-substituted Gly-Psi[CF=C]pyrrolidines, Gly-Psi[CF=C]piperidines, and Gly-Psi[CF=C](2-cyano)pyrrolidines. Of this later class, the (Z)- and (E)-fluoro-olefin analogues were prepared and chemical stability in comparison with the parent amide was checked. Most of these compounds exhibited a strong binding preference toward DPP II with IC(50) values in the low micromolar range, while only low DPP IV inhibitory potential is seen.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe presence of DPPII (dipeptidyl peptidase II; E.C. 3.
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