Viewing Malignant Melanoma Cells as Macrophage-Tumor Hybrids

Cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) begins in the epidermis as the clonal emergence of melanocytes having a deregulated mitotic cycle. In a manner not yet understood, some descendents of these cells loosen their adhesions in situ and migrate into the dermis, thus initiating the processes of invasion and metastasis. These cells look and act much like macrophage-melanoma hybrids created in the lab or arising in mice. But genetic proof for hybrids in human melanoma is still lacking. Nonetheless, should tumor cell hybridization account for the invasive phenotype, this would surely evoke new therapeutic approaches regarding mechanisms of cell fusion and hybrid-specific molecular signatures. Here are described some of the remarkable phenotypic similarities between experimental macrophage-melanoma hybrids and CMM. The results suggest that invasive and metastatic CMM might well arise through fusion and genomic hybridization between melanoma cells and migratory bone marrow-derived cells.Key words: tumor cell fusion, tumor macrophage hybrid, melanoma, metastasis, melanin, migration, adhesion, β1,6-branched oligosaccharides     

Establishment of Autoantibody-Producing Cell Lines from Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes of Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Autoantibody-producing B cell lines were established from peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Peripheral blood lymphocytes obtained from five of seven patients were successfully transformed by Epstein-Barr virus. Two of four established B lymphoblastoid cell lines examined in this study produced anti-nuclear factor antibodies and one of them produced anti-single-stranded DNA and anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies. These results indicate that B cell clones committed to self antigens are transformed by Epstein-Barr virus and continue to produce autoantibodies. In order to establish a monoclonal autoantibody-producing B cell line, the cells were cloned by a limiting dilution method. The data suggest that it is possible to establish a monoclonal autoantibody-producing B cell line by the combination of transformation of B cells by Epstein-Barr virus and extensive cloning.     

柳氮磺吡啶对类风湿关节炎患者外周血来源的树突状细胞免疫活性的影响

研究柳氮磺吡啶(salicylazosulfapyridine,SASP)对类风湿关节炎患者外周血来源的树突状细胞(dendritic cell,DC)免疫活性的影响,探讨SASP治疗类风湿关节炎的作用机制.分离18例类风湿关节炎病人外周血单核细胞(peripheral blood mononuclear cell,PBMC),分别在DC分化成熟的不同阶段加入SASP,流式细胞仪检测DC表型的改变;混合淋巴细胞反应检测DC对同种异体T细胞的刺激作用;酶联免疫吸附实验检测IL-12的表达.实验发现SASP不影响PBMC经GM-CSF和IL-4诱导向未成熟DC的分化;但影响未成熟DC在TNF-α刺激下的成熟;抑制DC刺激同种异体T细胞增殖和分泌IL-12的能力.结果提示SASP的抗风湿作用可能与其抑制DC成熟及IL-12分泌有关.     

重度子痫前期患者外周血NK 细胞功能的研究*

目的:探讨重度子痫前期患者外周血中NK细胞数量、杀伤功能以及相关细胞因子的变化。方法:选择重度子痫前期患者25例(研究组)以及正常妊娠妇女25例(对照组),流式细胞术测定外周血中NK细胞数量,细胞毒实验测定NK细胞的杀伤活性,ELISA法测定血清IFN-γ及IL-2的浓度。结果:研究组患者外周血中NK细胞的数量以及杀伤活性显著高于对照组;研究组外周血中IFN-γ、IL-2的浓度也显著高于对照组。结论:重度子痫前期患者外周血NK细胞数量增多,杀伤活性增强,血清中NK细胞相关细胞因子也增加。这些改变可能参与重度子痫前期的发病机制。     

Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number in Peripheral Blood and Melanoma Risk

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number in peripheral blood has been suggested as risk modifier in various types of cancer. However, its influence on melanoma risk is unclear. We evaluated the association between mtDNA copy number in peripheral blood and melanoma risk in 500 melanoma cases and 500 healthy controls from an ongoing melanoma study. The mtDNA copy number was measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Overall, mean mtDNA copy number was significantly higher in cases than in controls (1.15 vs 0.99, P<0.001). Increased mtDNA copy number was associated with a 1.45-fold increased risk of melanoma (95% confidence interval: 1.12-1.97). Significant joint effects between mtDNA copy number and variables related to pigmentation and history of sunlight exposure were observed. This study supports an association between increased mtDNA copy number and melanoma risk that is independent on the known melanoma risk factors (pigmentation and history of sunlight exposure).     

Peripheral Blood T Cell Dynamics Predict Relapse in Multiple Sclerosis Patients on Fingolimod

Background

Fingolimod efficiently reduces multiple sclerosis (MS) relapse by inhibiting lymphocyte egress from lymph nodes through down-modulation of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptors. We aimed to clarify the alterations in peripheral blood T cell subsets associated with MS relapse on fingolimod.

Methods/Principal Findings

Blood samples successively collected from 23 relapsing-remitting MS patients before and during fingolimod therapy (0.5 mg/day) for 12 months and 18 healthy controls (HCs) were analysed for T cell subsets by flow cytometry. In MS patients, the percentages of central memory T (CCR7⁺CD45RO⁺) cells (TCM) and naïve T (CCR7⁺CD45RO^-) cells decreased significantly, while those of effector memory T (CCR7^-CD45RA^-) and suppressor precursor T (CD28^-) cells increased in both CD4⁺T and CD8⁺T cells from 2 weeks to 12 months during fingolimod therapy. The percentages of regulatory T (CD4⁺CD25^highCD127^low) cells in CD4⁺T cells and CCR7^-CD45RA⁺T cells in CD8⁺T cells also increased significantly. Eight relapsed patients demonstrated greater percentages of CD4⁺TCM than 15 non-relapsed patients at 3 and 6 months (p=0.0051 and p=0.0088, respectively). The IL17-, IL9-, and IL4-producing CD4⁺T cell percentages were significantly higher at pre-treatment in MS patients compared with HCs (p<0.01 for all), while the IL17-producing CD4⁺T cell percentages tended to show a transient increase at 2 weeks of fingolimod therapy (p^corr=0.0834).

Conclusions

The CD4⁺TCM percentages at 2 weeks to 12 months during fingolimod therapy are related to relapse.     

切尾拟鲿外周血细胞的显微结构

应用Wright-Giemsa染液联合染色方法,通过光镜对切尾拟鲿Pseudobagrus truncatus外周血细胞的形态进行观察。结果表明,切尾拟鲿外周血细胞可分为红细胞、单核细胞、淋巴细胞、血栓细胞和嗜中性粒细胞、嗜酸性粒细胞两种类型的粒细胞。未发现嗜碱性粒细胞。白细胞中,血栓细胞数量最多,占白细胞总数的39.32%;嗜酸性粒细胞数量最少,仅占白细胞总数的2.30%;单核细胞体积最大,大小为(14.58±3.95)μm×(12.96±2.67)μm;血栓细胞体积最小,大小为(6.53±0.96)μm×(3.65±0.41)μm。此外,统计了红细胞密度为(1.68±0.39)×106/mm3,白细胞密度为(5.84±0.73)×103/mm3。     

Immunophenotypic Characterization of CD45RO+ and CD45RA+ T Cell Subsets in Peripheral Blood of Peripheral T Cell Lymphoma Patients

To study the distribution profile of CD45RO⁺ and CD45RA⁺ T cells in the peripheral blood of peripheral T cell lymphoma (PTCL) patients and its clinical significance. 27 patients with PTCL were enrolled in this study, together with 30 healthy individuals as the control group. Flow cytometry analysis was employed to examinate the differences in the distribution of CD45RO⁺ and CD45RA⁺ T cells in peripheral blood between two groups. In PTCL patient’s lymphnode tissues, the T cell population displayed diverse antigenic expression, with CD4⁺ T cells as the major subset. No B cell-related antigen was expressed. The percentage of CD4⁺/CD8⁺ and CD4⁺CD45RO⁺ T cells in patients’ peripheral blood were significantly lower than that in the control samples, while the percentage of CD4⁺CD45RA⁺, CD8⁺CD45RA⁺, and CD8⁺CD45RO⁺ T cells in patients’ peripheral blood were significantly higher than that in the control samples. The percentage of CD4⁺/CD8⁺, CD4⁺CD45RO⁺ cells in stage I/II PTCL patients’ peripheral blood were significantly higher than that in the samples from patients with stage III/IV PTCL. The percentage of CD4⁺CD45RA⁺, CD8⁺CD45RA⁺, and CD8⁺CD45RO⁺ T cells were notably lower than that in the samples from III/IV period PTCL patients. Both CD45RO⁺ and CD45RA⁺ T cells play important roles in the process of PTCL. The immunophenotypic profile from this study will help to develop the differential diagnosis and treatment of PTCL patients in the future, and improve the accuracy rate of diagnosis and to ameliorate the prognosis.     

Focused Microarray Analysis of Peripheral Mononuclear Blood Cells from Churg-Strauss Syndrome Patients

DNA diagnostics are useful but are hampered by difficult ethicalissues. Moreover, it cannot provide enough information on theenvironmental factors that are important for pathogenesis ofcertain diseases. However, this is not a problem for RNA diagnostics,which evaluate the expression of the gene in question. We herereport a novel RNA diagnostics tool that can be employed withperipheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). To establish thistool, we identified 290 genes that are highly expressed in normalPBMCs but not in TIG-1, a normal human fibroblast cell. Thesegenes were entitled PREP after predominantly expressed in PBMCand included 50 uncharacterized genes. We then conducted PREPgene-focused microarray analysis on PBMCs from seven cases ofChurg–Strauss syndrome (CSS), which is a small-vesselnecrotizing vasculitis. We found that PREP135 (coactosin-likeprotein), PREP77 (prosaposin), PREP191 (cathepsin D), PREP234(c-fgr), and PREP136 (lysozyme) were very highly up-regulatedin all seven CSS patients. Another 28 genes were also up-regulated,albeit more moderately, and three were down-regulated in allCSS patients. The nature of these up- and down-regulated genessuggest that the immune systems of the patients are activatedin response to invading microorganisms. These observations indicatethat focused microarray analysis of PBMCs may be a practical,useful, and low-cost bedside diagnostics tool.     

Peripheral Blood for Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutation Detection in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients

OBJECTIVE: It is important to analyze and track Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) mutation status for predicting efficacy and monitoring resistance throughout EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) treatment in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility and predictive utility of EGFR mutation detection in peripheral blood. METHODS: Plasma, serum and tumor tissue samples from 164 NSCLC patients were assessed for EGFR mutations using Amplification Refractory Mutation System (ARMS). RESULTS: Compared with matched tumor tissue, the concordance rate of EGFR mutation status in plasma and serum was 73.6% and 66.3%, respectively. ARMS for EGFR mutation detection in blood showed low sensitivity (plasma, 48.2%; serum, 39.6%) but high specificity (plasma, 95.4%; serum, 95.5%). Treated with EGFR-TKIs, patients with EGFR mutations in blood had significantly higher objective response rate (ORR) and insignificantly longer progression-free survival (PFS) than those without mutations (ORR: plasma, 68.4% versus 38.9%, P = 0.037; serum, 75.0% versus 39.5%, P = 0.017; PFS: plasma, 7.9 months versus 6.1 months, P = 0.953; serum, 7.9 months versus 5.7 months, P = 0.889). In patients with mutant tumors, those without EGFR mutations in blood tended to have prolonged PFS than patients with mutations (19.7 months versus 11.0 months, P = 0.102). CONCLUSIONS: EGFR mutations detected in blood may be highly predictive of identical mutations in corresponding tumor, as well as showing correlations with tumor response and survival benefit from EGFR-TKIs. Therefore, blood for EGFR mutation detection may allow NSCLC patients with unavailable or insufficient tumor tissue the opportunity to benefit from personalized treatment. However, due to the high false negative rate in blood samples, analysis for EGFR mutations in tumor tissue remains the gold standard.     

帕金森病和正常人外周血单个核细胞的蛋白质组差异分析

目的:通过研究帕金森病和正常外周血单个核细胞(PBMC)的蛋白质组差异,初步探讨外周免疫系统与帕金森病的病理联系.方法:用固相pH梯度双向凝胶电泳分离人帕金森病和正常单个核细胞总蛋白质,考马斯亮蓝染色,PDQuest 2-DE软件分析,对部分差异蛋白质点进行基质辅助激光解吸电离飞行时间质谱(MALDI-TOF-MS)测定其胶内酶解后的肽质指纹图谱,用Mascot查询系统查询SWISS-PROT数据库.结果:获得了分辨率和重复性均较好的双向电泳考染图谱,对其中的21个差异蛋白质点分别进行肽质指纹分析,经数据库查询,初步鉴定为一些与蛋白降解、抗氧化应激、信号转导、细胞骨架、细胞周期调控等有关的蛋白质.结论:建立了帕金森病PBMC的双向凝胶电泳图谱,提示帕金森病和正常的PBMC的蛋白质表达具有差异.     

人外周血纤维细胞的分离、培养方法

目的:探索简便易行的外周血纤维细胞体外分离、培养方法极其生物学特征与功能.方法:采用Ficoll密度梯度离心分离法分离成人外周血,所获得的白细胞在一定条件要求下体外培养,采用流式细胞技术、细胞免疫荧光染色等对贴壁生长的成纤维样细胞进行鉴定,在扫描电镜下进一步观察其形态结构.结果:培养至第14天时,外周血纤维细胞开始分化成熟.血液来源的取材、首次换液的时间、细胞的接种密度、血清浓度等多种因素均会对外周血纤维细胞的培养造成影响.免疫荧光染色结果显示培养至12天时CD34和COL Ⅰ均为强阳性表达,继续培养至28天时,血液来源的细胞表面抗原CD34发生明显丢失,免疫荧光染色几乎不能显色;相反COL Ⅰ持续表达阳性,取培养14天的贴壁细胞,经流式细胞仪分析,Col Ⅰ+细胞为81.6％,显示PBFCs不断向成纤维细胞分化的特性.结论:采用密度梯度离心法配合适当的培养条件,成人外周血中存在的前体细胞经体外分离、培养可分化为外用血纤维细胞,并保持其生物学特性.     

Fluorescently Activated Cell Sorting Followed by Microarray Profiling of Helper T Cell Subtypes from Human Peripheral Blood

Background

Peripheral blood samples have been subjected to comprehensive gene expression profiling to identify biomarkers for a wide range of diseases. However, blood samples include red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. White blood cells comprise polymorphonuclear leukocytes, monocytes, and various types of lymphocytes. Blood is not distinguishable, irrespective of whether the expression profiles reflect alterations in (a) gene expression patterns in each cell type or (b) the proportion of cell types in blood. CD4⁺ Th cells are classified into two functionally distinct subclasses, namely Th1 and Th2 cells, on the basis of the unique characteristics of their secreted cytokines and their roles in the immune system. Th1 and Th2 cells play an important role not only in the pathogenesis of human inflammatory, allergic, and autoimmune diseases, but also in diseases that are not considered to be immune or inflammatory disorders. However, analyses of minor cellular components such as CD4⁺ cell subpopulations have not been performed, partly because of the limited number of these cells in collected samples.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We describe fluorescently activated cell sorting followed by microarray (FACS–array) technology as a useful experimental strategy for characterizing the expression profiles of specific immune cells in the circulation. We performed reproducible gene expression profiling of Th1 and Th2, respectively. Our data suggest that this procedure provides reliable information on the gene expression profiles of certain small immune cell populations. Moreover, our data suggest that GZMK, GZMH, EOMES, IGFBP3, and STOM may be novel markers for distinguishing Th1 cells from Th2 cells, whereas IL17RB and CNTNAP1 can be Th2-specific markers.

Conclusions/Significance

Our approach may help in identifying aberrations and novel therapeutic or diagnostic targets for diseases that affect Th1 or Th2 responses and elucidating the involvement of a subpopulation of immune cells in some diseases.     

Peripheral Blood Cell Signatures of Plasmodium falciparum Infection during Pregnancy

Sequestration of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes in placental intervillous spaces causes inflammation and pathology. Knowledge of the profiles of immune cells associated with the physiopathology of pregnancy-associated malaria (PAM) is scarce. We conducted a longitudinal, prospective study, both in Benin and Tanzania, including ∼1000 pregnant women in each site with systematic follow-up at scheduled antenatal visits until delivery. We used ex vivo flow cytometry to identify peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) profiles that are associated with PAM and anaemia, determining the phenotypic composition and activation status of PBMC in selected sub-groups with and without PAM both at inclusion and at delivery in a total of 302 women. Both at inclusion and at delivery PAM was associated with significantly increased frequencies both of B cells overall and of activated B cells. Infection-related profiles were otherwise quite distinct at the two different time-points. At inclusion, PAM was associated with anaemia, with an increased frequency of immature monocytes and with a decreased frequency of regulatory T cells (Treg). At delivery, infected women presented with significantly fewer plasmacytoid dendritic cells (DC), more myeloid DC expressing low levels of HLA-DR, and more effector T cells (Teff) compared to uninfected women. Independent associations with an increased risk of anaemia were found for altered antigen-presenting cell frequencies at inclusion, but for an increased frequency of Teff at delivery. Our findings emphasize the prominent role played by B cells during PAM whenever it arises during pregnancy, whilst also revealing signature changes in other circulating cell types that, we conclude, primarily reflect the relative duration of the infections. Thus, the acute, recently-acquired infections present at delivery were marked by changes in DC and Teff frequencies, contrasting with infections at inclusion, considered chronic in nature, that were characterized by an abundance of immature monocytes and a paucity of Treg in PBMC.     

Phenotypic and Functional Characteristics of Blood Natural Killer Cells from Melanoma Patients at Different Clinical Stages

Melanomas are aggressive skin tumors characterized by high metastatic potential. Immunotherapy is a valuable alternative for metastatic melanoma patients resistant to chemotherapy. Natural Killer (NK) cells are efficient anti-tumor cytotoxic effectors. We previously showed that blood NK cells from stage IV metastatic melanoma patients display decreased NK receptors and that chemotherapy modifies the functional status of blood NK cells. To investigate the role of NK cells along melanoma progression, we have here studied NK cells from patients at different stages of the disease. First, we showed that ex vivo NK cells from certain stage III–IV patients displayed low degranulation potential. Using a dynamic label-free assay, we found that immunoselected IL-2 activated blood NK cells from patients efficiently lysed melanoma cells through NKp46 and NKG2D receptors, independently to the clinical stage. Moreover, the ex vivo phenotype of circulating NK cells from 33 patients (stage I to IV) was extensively analyzed. NK cells from patients displayed higher variability in the percentages of Natural Cytotoxicity Receptors (NCR) and Natural Killer Group 2D (NKG2D) receptor expression compared to donor NK cells. The main defect was the decreased expression of NCR1 (NKp46) by NK cells from metastatic patients. Interestingly, we found a positive correlation between the NK cell percentages of NKp46 and the duration of stage IV in melanoma patients. Finally, we showed that NK cells infiltrated primary melanomas and displayed a predominant peritumoral distribution. These results are new arguments for the development of NK-based therapies in melanoma patients.     

眼肌型和全身型重症肌无力患者外周血Tfh细胞及相关分子表达研究

目的:阐述Tfh细胞及相关分子在重症肌无力发病中的作用.通过分析Tfh细胞及相关分子在眼肌型和全身型重症肌无力患者外周血的表达差异,阐明眼肌型和全身型重症肌无力患者外周发生了不同的体液免疫反应;在描述重症肌无力患者症状严重程度方面,比较绝对评分和QMG评分的优劣性.方法:运用抗体标记Tfh细胞相关分子CXCR5、ICOS、Bcl-6及CXCL13,应用流式细胞术检测、分析这些分子在非重症肌无力、眼肌型和全身型重症肌无力患者外周血的表达;对病情做QMG评分和绝对评分,分析其与CXCL13表达的相关性.结果:在眼肌型、全身型重症肌无力患者外周血中,CXCR5、ICOS和Bcl-6分子在CD4+T细胞的表达增高,其中CXCR5、Bcl-6分子表达在3组之间的差异存在统计学意义;随MG病情发展,外周血CXCL13的表达上调,CXCL13与QMG评分和绝对评分相关系数分别为0.669和0.797.结论:Tfh细胞及相关分子CXCR5、Bcl-6、CXCL13的表达参与了MG的发生、发展过程;Tfh细胞及相关分子在全身型重症肌无力患者外周血的表达高于眼肌型重症肌无力,这是全身型重症肌无力患者临床症状更重和症状评分更高的原因,也是全身型重症肌无力患者外周血抗体阳性率高于眼肌型重症肌无力的原因;在重症肌无力患者病情评测中,绝对评分较QMG评分更加准确,与临床症状的相关性更高.     

Functional Status of Peripheral Blood T-Cells in Ischemic Stroke Patients

Stroke is a major cause of disability and leading cause of death in the northern hemisphere. Only recently it became evident that cerebral ischemia not only leads to brain tissue damage and subsequent local inflammation but also to a dramatic loss of peripheral blood T-cells with subsequent infections. However, only scarce information is available on the activation status of surviving T cells. This study therefore addressed the functional consequences of immunological changes induced by stroke in humans. For this purpose peripheral blood T-cells were isolated from 93 stroke patients and the expression of activation makers was determined. In addition ex vivo stimulation assays were applied to asses the functionality of T cells derived from blood of stroke patients. Compared to healthy controls, stroke patients demonstrated an enhanced surface expression of HLA-DR (p<0.0001) and CD25 (p = 0.02) on T cells, revealing that stroke leads to T cell activation, while CTLA-4 remained undetectable. In vitro studies revealed that catecholamines inhibit CTLA-4 upregulation in activated T cells. Ex vivo, T cells of stroke patients proliferated unimpaired and released increased amounts of the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α (p<0.01) and IL-6 (p<0.05). Also, in sera of stroke patients HMGB1 concentrations were increased (p = 0.0002). The data demonstrate that surviving T cells in stroke patients remain fully functional and are primed towards a TH1 response, in addition we provide evidence that catecholamine mediated inhibition of CTLA-4 expression and serum HMGB1 release are possible mediators in stroke induced activation of T cells.