ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is an aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma that affects B lymphocytes. It can develop in the lymph nodes and can be localized or generalized. Despite DLBCL being considered potentially curable, little research has been conducted on the relationship between the body's immune response and DLBCL. AIM: To study the expression and significance of T-regulatory cells (Tregs) interleukin (IL)-35, IL-10, and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-ß) in DLBCL. METHODS: Data from 82 patients with DLBCL who were initially admitted to The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University (Zhejiang Province, China) between January 2017 and June 2022 and treated with standard first-line regimens were reviewed. Three patients were lost to follow-up; thus, 79 patients were included in the statistical analysis and then divided into three groups according to the evaluation of clinical efficacy: Incipient (new-onset and treatment-naïve), effectively treated, and relapsed-refractory. Thirty healthy individuals were included in the control group. The expression of peripheral blood T lymphocytes and their associated factors IL-35, IL-10, and TGF-ß in the four groups were observed. RESULTS: In contrast to the successfully treated and normal control groups, both the incipient and relapse-refractory groups exhibited greater proportions of CD4-positive (+) Tregs (P < 0.05), whereas the proportion of CD8+ Tregs did not differ substantially between the groups. Serum levels of IL-35 and IL-10 in the incipient and relapsed-refractory groups were higher than those in the effectively treated and normal control groups (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant distinction in the expression level of TGF-ß between the groups (P > 0.05). The correlation between IL-35 and IL-10 concentrations was significantly positive, with a correlation coefficient of 0.531 (P < 0.05). The correlation between IL-35 and TGF-ß concentration was significantly positive, with a correlation coefficient of 0.375 (P < 0.05). The correlation between IL-10 and TGF-ß concentration was significantly positive, with a correlation coefficient of 0.185 (P < 0.05). The expression concentrations of IL-35, IL-10 and TGF-ß were apparently and positively correlated (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Tregs IL-35, and IL-10 may be closely associated with the occurrence and development of DLBCL and the detection of related indices may be helpful in the analysis of disease prognosis.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Follicular lymphoma (FL) is a type of B-cell lymphoma that originates at the germinal center and has a low malignancy rate. FL has become the most common inert lymphoma in Europe and America but has a relatively low incidence in Asia. AIM: To explore the clinical features, curative effects, and prognostic factors of FL. METHODS: Completed medical records of 49 patients with FL who were admitted to the Ningbo First Hospital from June 2010 to June 2021 were examined. These patients were definitively diagnosed by pathological biopsy or immunohistochemical staining. The diagnostic criteria were based on the 2008 World Health Organization classification of lymphomas. Ann Arbor staging was performed according to the imaging and bone marrow examination results. Risk stratification of all patients was performed based on the International Prognostic Index (IPI), age-adjusted IPI, Follicular Lymphoma International Prognosis Index (FLIPI), and FLIPI2 to compare the efficacy of different treatment regimens and analyze the related prognostic factors. RESULTS: The age of onset in patients ranged from 24 to 76 years, with a median age of 51 years. Most patients developed the disease at 40-59 years of age, and the male:female ratio was 1.6:1. No significant difference was noted in the curative effect between the non-chemotherapy, combined chemotherapy, and other chemotherapy regimens (P > 0.05). Hemoglobin (Hb) level < 120 g/L, Ki-67 value > 50%, bone marrow involvement, and clinical stages III-IV were associated with a poor prognosis of FL (P < 0.05). However, the influence of other indicators was not statistically significant. Risk grouping was performed using the FLIPI, and the results showed that 24.5%, 40.8%, and 34.7% of patients were in the low-, moderate-, and high-risk groups, respectively. According to the survival analysis results, the survival rate of patients was lower in the high-risk group than in the other low-risk and moderate-risk groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: FL mainly occurs in middle-aged and elderly men, primarily affecting lymph nodes and bone marrow. Hb level, Ki-67 value, bone marrow involvement, and clinical staging were used to evaluate prognosis.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The effects of T-cell immunoglobulin mucin molecule-3 (Tim-3), transforming growth factor ß (TGF-ß), and chemokine-12 (CXCL12) expression on the prognosis of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) have not been elucidated. AIM: To examine the correlation between Tim-3, TGF-ß and CXCL12 expression and DLBCL prognosis. METHODS: Lymph node tissues of 97 patients with DLBCL and 93 normal-response hyperplastic lymph node tissues treated from January 2017 to May 2019 were selected as the DLBCL and control groups, respectively. The expression of Tim-3, TGF-ß, and CXCL12 was detected immunohistochemically. Patients were followed up for 3 years, and progression-free survival was recorded. Cox multifactorial analysis was performed to analyze the risk factors for poor prognosis. RESULTS: The positive expression rates of Tim-3, TGF-ß, and CXCL12 were higher in DLBCL tissues than in non-cancerous (control) tissues (P < 0.05). One-year post-surgery, the positive expression rates of Tim-3, TGF-ß, and CXCL12 were higher in patients with effective treatment than in those with ineffective treatment (P < 0.05). The 3-year progression-free survival of 97 patients with DLBCL was 67.01% (65/97). Univariate analysis revealed that clinical stage, bone marrow infiltration, International Prognostic Index (IPI) score, Tim-3 positivity, TGF-ß positivity, and CXCL12 positivity were associated with poor prognosis (P < 0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that clinical stage III-IV, bone marrow infiltration, mediate-to-high-risk IPI scores, Tim-3 positivity, TGF-ß positivity, and CXCL12 positivity were independent risk factors affecting prognosis (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: DLBCL tissues exhibit high positive expression of Tim-3, TGF-ß, and CXCL12, and a high expression of all three indicates a poor prognosis.
ABSTRACT
AIM: To investigate the hepatic differentiation potential of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) and to evaluate their therapeutic effect on liver fibrosis/cirrhosis. METHODS: A CCl4-induced liver fibrotic/cirrhotic rat model was used to assess the effect of hUC-MSCs. Histopathology was assessed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), Masson trichrome and Sirius red staining. The liver biochemical profile was measured using a Beckman Coulter analyzer. Expression analysis was performed using immunofluorescent staining, immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and real-time PCR. RESULTS: We demonstrated that the infused hUC-MSCs could differentiate into hepatocytes in vivo. Functionally, the transplantation of hUC-MSCs to CCl4-treated rats improved liver transaminases and synthetic function, reduced liver histopathology and reversed hepatobiliary fibrosis. The reversal of hepatobiliary fibrosis was likely due to the reduced activation state of hepatic stellate cells, decreased collagen deposition, and enhanced extracellular matrix remodeling via the up-regulation of MMP-13 and down-regulation of TIMP-1. CONCLUSION: Transplanted hUC-MSCs could differentiate into functional hepatocytes that improved both the biochemical and histopathologic changes in a CCl4-induced rat liver fibrosis model. hUC-MSCs may offer therapeutic opportunities for treating hepatobiliary diseases, including cirrhosis.
