Bone marrow phospho-STAT5 expression in non-CML chronic myeloproliferative disorders correlates with JAK2 V617F mutation and provides evidence of in vivo JAK2 activation.

The recently described JAK2 V617F mutation, present in a substantial proportion of nonchronic myelogenous leukemia chronic myeloproliferative disorders (non-CML CMPDs), is changing the way we conceptualize and diagnose these diseases. We hypothesized that the activation of this tyrosine kinase might result in activation of downstream mediators such as STAT5, which would be detectable in bone marrow biopsies. We examined the expression of activated STAT5 (nuclear phospho-STAT5) in 73 bone marrow biopsies from patients with CMPDs [20 essential thrombocythemia (ET), 26 chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis (CIMF), and 27 polycythemia vera] and 39 controls. We compared the results with the JAK2 mutational status and clinical parameters. The frequency of the JAK2 V617F was 73% (85% in PV, 65% in ET, and 65% in CIMF). All patients with the JAK2 V617F showed abnormal nuclear megakaryocytic phospho-STAT5 (nMEG pSTAT5) expression. In the JAK2 wild-type group, nMEG pSTAT5 was observed in 2/7 ET, and 3/9 CIMF patients. nMEG pSTAT5 staining was 100% sensitive and 88% specific for JAK2 V617F. Clinically, nMEG pSTAT5+ patients seemed to require cytoreductive therapy more often than those without nMEG p-STAT expression. pSTAT5 immunohistochemistry is a useful diagnostic test in bone marrow biopsies from suspected non-CML CMPD patients. It identifies most of the patients with the JAK2 V617F but also other JAK2 wild-type CMPD patients. The presence of nMEG pSTAT5 in a subset of CMPD patients lacking the mutation suggests that alternate tyrosine kinase/phosphatase pathways may be involved and warrant further investigation. Phosphoprotein detection represents a new area for diagnostic pathology that exploits specific functional characteristics of cells within the context of a tissue section.

Refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts associated with marked thrombocytosis (RARS-T), another myeloproliferative condition characterized by JAK2 V617F mutation.

JAK2 V617F mutation recently was identified as a pathogenic factor in typical chronic myeloproliferative diseases (CMPD). Some forms of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) show a significant overlap with CMPD (classified as MDS/MPD), but the diagnostic assignment may be challenging. We studied blood or bone marrow from 270 patients with MDS, MDS/MPD, and CMPD for the presence of JAK2 V617F mutation using polymerase chain reaction, sequencing, and melting curve analysis. The detection rate of JAK2 V617F mutants for polycythemia vera, chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis, and essential thrombocythemia (n = 103) was similar to the previously reported results. In typical forms of MDS (n = 89) JAK2 V617F mutation was very rare (n = 2). However, a higher prevalence of this mutation was found in patients with MDS/MPD-U (9 of 35). Within this group, most of the patients harboring JAK2 V617F mutation showed features consistent with the provisional MDS/MPD-U entity refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts and thrombocytosis (RARS-T). Among 9 RARS-T patients, 6 showed the presence of JAK2 V617F mutation, and in 1 patient without mutation, aberrant, positive phospho-STAT5 staining was seen that is typically present in association with JAK2 V617F mutation. In summary, we found that RARS-T reveals a high frequency of JAK2 V617F mutation and likely constitutes another JAK2 mutation-associated form of CMPD.

Identification of the JAK2 V617F mutation in chronic myeloproliferative disorders using FRET probes and melting curve analysis.

We developed and validated a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay using fluorescent hybridization probes and melting curve analysis to identify the JAK2 V617F mutation, which is implicated in a substantial proportion of chronic myeloproliferative disorders (CMPDs). DNA from 161 samples was isolated from peripheral blood granulocytes and formalin-fixed bone marrow clot sections in patients with CMPDs and without myeloproliferative disorders previously genotyped for the JAK2 V617F (G-->T) mutation, which included 114 wild types (GG) and 47 mutants (GT and TT). Melting curve analysis of these samples yielded 114 wild types, 42 heterozygotes, and 5 homozygotes showing 100% concordance. Analytic sensitivity of the assay for mutant DNA was 5% for the LightTyper (Roche Applied Sciences, Indianapolis, IN) and 10% for the LightCycler (Roche Applied Sciences). Consistent with earlier reports, 78% of the non-chronic myelogenous leukemia CMPD patients and 8% of non-CMPD patients displayed this mutation. This study demonstrates that clinical genotyping of the JAK2 V617F mutation can be performed by melting analysis using both freshly isolated and formalin-fixed tissues.

Angiogenesis in lymphoproliferative disorders: a therapeutic target?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Several recent studies have focused on the role of angiogenesis in hematologic malignancies. This review specifically discusses angiogenesis in lymphoproliferative disorders, with a special emphasis on the most recent publications. The novel therapeutic strategies arising from advances in this field are reviewed, and the potential pitfalls of these therapies are also discussed. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent publications confirm that angiogenesis and angiogenic factors are increased in lymphoproliferative disorders. In addition, several studies have demonstrated that angiogenesis is directly involved in the pathogenesis of these disorders. SUMMARY: Knowledge of angiogenesis in lymphoproliferative disorders has increased substantially in the past few years. Angiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor have been shown to be important in the progression or maintenance of lymphoproliferative disorders. Targeting of these factors is therefore a promising new therapeutic approach. Hematopoietic angiogenesis is a nascent field, however, and its concepts are still evolving. A systematic approach to understanding and characterizing the angiogenic phenotype is required for the design of efficacious antiangiogenic therapeutic regimens.

Tuberculous tenosynovitis.

Tuberculous tenosynovitis is rare and may be overlooked as a cause of chronic tenosynovitis. This report presents a case of a young woman with tuberculosis tenosynovitis of the wrist, and highlights the clinical, imaging, histological, and laboratory features most commonly seen in this disease.

Clostridium difficile vaccine and serum immunoglobulin G antibody response to toxin A.

There is a strong association between serum antibody responses to toxin A and protection against Clostridium difficile diarrhea. A parenteral C. difficile toxoid vaccine induced very-high-level responses to anti-toxin A immunoglobulin G (IgG) in the sera of healthy volunteers. After vaccination, the concentrations of anti-toxin A IgG in the sera of all 30 recipients exceeded the concentrations that were associated with protection in previous clinical studies. Furthermore, the median concentration of serum anti-toxin A IgG in the test group was 50-fold higher than the previous threshold. These findings support the feasibility of using a vaccine to protect high-risk individuals against C. difficile-associated diarrhea and colitis.