Estradiol and Dihydrotestosterone Levels in COVID-19 Patients.

Objective: To determine differences in plasma sex hormone levels in male and female coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients and healthy volunteers (HVs) because cell entry of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 occurs via the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor which is downregulated by 17β-estradiol.

Patients And Methods: Citrated plasma samples were collected from 101 patients with COVID-19 upon presentation to the emergency department and from 40 HVs between November 1, 2020, and May 30, 2021. Plasma 17β-estradiol and 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (pg/mL).

Lack of JAK2 activating non-synonymous mutations in diffuse large B-cell tumors: JAK2 deregulation still unexplained.

Deregulated JAK2 signaling plays an important role in the pathogenesis of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). We and others have shown constitutive activation of JAK2 and STAT3 in diffuse large B cell lymphomas (DLBCL). We sought to determine the mechanism of JAK2 signaling in DLBCL tumors with a genetic approach.

Establishment and characterization of a novel Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia cell line, MWCL-1.

Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) is a rare, lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma characterized by hypersecretion of immunoglobulin M (IgM) protein and tumor infiltration into the bone marrow and lymphatic tissue. Our understanding of the mechanisms driving the development and progression of WM is currently by the shortage of representative cell models available for study. We describe here the establishment of a new WM cell line, MWCL-1.

Effect of tissue shipping on plasma cell isolation, viability, and RNA integrity in the context of a centralized good laboratory practice-certified tissue banking facility.

The Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium has established a tissue bank for the deposition of bone marrow samples from patients with multiple myeloma to be mailed and processed under good laboratory practices. To date, over 1,000 samples have been collected. At this time, limited information is available on shipped bone marrow aspirates in regards to cell viability, yield, purity, and subsequent RNA yield and quality.

Functional gene expression analysis of clonal plasma cells identifies a unique molecular profile for light chain amyloidosis.

Immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis (AL) is characterized by a clonal expansion of plasma cells within the bone marrow. Gene expression analysis was used to identify a unique molecular profile for AL using enriched plasma cells (CD138+) from the bone marrow of 24 patients with AL and 28 patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and 6 healthy controls. Class prediction analysis (PAM) revealed a subset of 12 genes, which included TNFRSF7 (CD27), SDF-1, and PSMA2, that distinguished between these 2 groups with an estimated and observed accuracy of classification of 92%.

Analysis of somatic hypermutation and antigenic selection in the clonal B cell in immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis (AL).

Light chain amyloidosis (AL) is a protein folding disorder with an underlying B cell neoplasia where the monoclonal immunoglobulin light chains (LCs) produced from insoluble amyloid fibrils. The deposition of these fibrillar aggregates in vital organs causes severe organ dysfunction over time and is associated with high mortality. We have identified the postgerminal center status of the B cell clone by evaluating the presence of somatic hypermutation in the variable region of the LC gene in 27 (13 of the lambda and 14 of the kappa subtype) AL patients.

Immunoglobulin light chain variable (V) region genes influence clinical presentation and outcome in light chain-associated amyloidosis (AL).

Light chain-associated amyloidosis (AL) is a plasma cell dyscrasia in which the secreted monoclonal immunoglobulin (Ig) light chains form amyloid fibrils. There is considerable heterogeneity in clinical presentation, and prognosis of the disease relates to the severity of organ dysfunction induced by amyloid deposits. The mechanisms by which the amyloid fibrils are deposited as well as the predilection for specific organ sites have not been clearly elucidated.