In vivo mononuclear cell tracking using superparamagnetic particles of iron oxide: feasibility and safety in humans.

Background: Cell therapy is an emerging and exciting novel treatment option for cardiovascular disease that relies on the delivery of functional cells to their target site. Monitoring and tracking cells to ensure tissue delivery and engraftment is a critical step in establishing clinical and therapeutic efficacy. The study aims were (1) to develop a Good Manufacturing Practice-compliant method of labeling competent peripheral blood mononuclear cells with superparamagnetic particles of iron oxide (SPIO), and (2) to evaluate its potential for magnetic resonance cell tracking in humans.

Eosinophilic folliculitis: an important differential diagnosis after allogeneic bone-marrow transplant.

Eosinophilic folliculitis (EF) is a descriptive histopathological term applied to a heterogeneous group of disorders. In EF, the characteristic histopathological features are eosinophilic spongiosis and pustulosis involving the infundibular region of the hair follicle. EF may be seen in association with bacterial and fungal infection, drug reactions and haematological disorders.

Current progress in the development of a cell-based vaccine for the immunotherapy of acute myeloid leukemia.

Evidence that immunological control contributes to the elimination of residual leukemia has emerged from allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. This review assesses the current understanding of immunobiology of acute myeloid leukemia and how dendritic cells and T cells may be harnessed using in vitro and in vivo priming techniques. Preclinical and clinical dendritic cell vaccine trials reported to date are considered and the prospects for immunotherapy with dendritic cell-based vaccine constructs evaluated.

Fusion hybrids of dendritic cells and autologous myeloid blasts as a potential cellular vaccine for acute myeloid leukaemia.

We assessed the potential of tumour cell/dendritic cell fusion hybrids to generate in vitro anti-leukaemic T-cell responses following co-culture with autologous remission lymphocytes in six patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Comparison was made to anti-leukaemic responses induced by mature dendritic cells (mDC) co-cultured with autologous, irradiated myeloid blasts. Fusion hybrids induced anti-leukaemic T-cell immune responses in three of six patients.