Lymphocyte subpopulations: a potential predictor of a response in patients with immune thrombocytopenia.

OBJECTIVES: Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune bleeding disorder caused by increased platelet destruction and altered production. Despite the well-described pathophysiological background of immune dysregulation, current treatment guidelines consist of monotherapy with different drugs, with no tool to predict which patient is more suitable for each therapeutic modality. METHODS: In our study, we attempted to determine differences in the immune setting, comparing the patients' responses to administered therapy. During 12-month follow-up, we assessed blood count, antiplatelet autoantibodies, and T lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood in 35 patients with ITP (newly diagnosed or relapsed disease). RESULTS: Our data show that the value of antiplatelet autoantibodies, the percentage of cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and the immunoregulatory index (IRI, CD4+ / CD8+ T cell ratio) differ significantly by treatment response. Responders have a higher IRI (median 2.1 vs. 1.5 in non-responders, P = 0.04), higher antiplatelet autoantibodies (median 58 vs. 20% in non-responders, P = 0.01) and lower relative CD8+ T cells count (P = 0.02) before treatment. DISCUSSION: The results suggest that immunological parameters (antiplatelet autoantibodies, relative CD8+ T cell count and IRI) could be used as prognostic tools for a worse clinical outcome in patients with ITP. CONCLUSION: These biomarkers could be utilized for stratification and eventually selection of treatment preferring combination therapy.

Immunogenicity and Safety of the Spikevax® (Moderna) mRNA SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine in Patients with Primary Humoral Immunodeficiency.

INTRODUCTION: Reports on the immunogenicity and efficacy of the Spikevax® vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 in immunodeficient patients are still scarce. We aimed to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine in patients with primary humoral immunodeficiency. METHODS: We enrolled 46 patients, including 34 patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID), 10 patients with unclassified hypogammaglobulinemia (HypoIg), and 2 patients with X-linked agammaglobulinemia. We collected the blood samples before vaccination (D 0), and 10 days (D +38) and 90 days (D +118) after the second vaccination. Further, we quantified SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell response (QuantiFERON ELISA test), serum anti-RBD IgG, and anti-RBD IgA-specific antibodies (enzyme immunoassay). RESULTS: We found that the vaccination elicited predominantly mild adverse events, comparable to healthy population. Vaccination response negatively correlated with a value of Immune Deficiency and Dysregulation Activity in all measured parameters. D +38, seroconversion for anti-RBD IgG and anti-RBD IgA was observed in 65% and 21% CVID patients, respectively. SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell response was detected in less than 50% of CVID patients. Meanwhile, HypoIg patients had 100%, 90%, and 60% positivity rates for anti-RBD IgG, anti-RBD IgA, and T-cell response, respectively. Three months after the second vaccination, 82% of the responders remained positive for anti-RBD IgG, but only less than 50% remained positive for T-cell activity in CVIDs. Low immunogenicity was observed in patients with lung involvement and/or rituximab treatment history. No SARS-CoV-2 infection was reported within 6 months after the second vaccination. CONCLUSION: Spikevax® seems to be safe with satisfactory immunogenicity in patients with primary humoral immunodeficiency.

Predictive value of systemic and local inflammation parameters in talc pleurodesis assessment.

BACKGROUND: One option for the palliative treatment of recurrent malignant pleural effusion is powdered talc using thoracoscopy. This paper presents the results of selected systemic and local manifestations of the talc-induced inflammatory reaction using a videothoracoscope. METHOD: A total of 114 patients with repeated malignant pleural effusion were treated at the Cardiac Surgery Clinic in Hradec Kralove from January 2010 to December 2012. Those with a life expectancy more than ≥ 3 months were eligible for talcage surgery. The group was retrospectively divided according to treatment results into Group A (N1 = 98 - successful) and Group B (N2 = 16 - relapsing). The pleural effusion was quantified using ultrasound over 1 year at 3-month intervals. Systemic changes due to the inflammatory reaction (body temperature, serum leukocyte and CRP levels) were evaluated. Local indicators of inflammation included changes in the leukocyte cell population in the effusion and changes in the pleural CRP levels. The dynamics of local expression of membrane receptors TLR-2 and CD-64 on granulocyte and monocyte cell populations in the pleural effusion were also evaluated. RESULTS: The reaction after talcage, included a significant increase in axillary temperature and leukocyte count, 12 h after the procedure. The dynamics were different in the two groups. The dynamics of local inflammatory changes were an early increase in the pleural CRP levels in both groups. The time interval of local inflammatory development and duration was related to the treatment efficacy and showed a significant rise 2 h after talcage in Group A. In Group B the local inflammatory reaction was slower and the rise was only observed 24 h after talc application. A decrease in lymphocyte count and an increase in granulocyte count 2 h after talcage were found. After an initial drop in monocyte level, a rise occurred within 24 h after talcage. Changes in the expression of TLR-2 and CD-64 receptors in relation to their cell carriers were observed depending on time after talcage. CONCLUSION: The differences in the serum and pleural effusion CRP levels suggest that the surgical stress manifests itself locally in the pleural space with a lower intensity and time delay. The TLR-2 and CD-64 receptors exhibit different behaviour depending on the type of cell membrane where they are found. The inverse relation between the granulocyte increase and TLR-2 receptor decrease in the membrane immediately after talcage is a new finding. The dynamics of TLR-2 expression on the monocytes demonstrates a direct proportion between the increasing expression of the TLR-2 receptor and increasing percent fraction of the cell carrier.

The dynamics of selected local inflammatory markers to talc in the treatment of malignant pleural effusions.

BACKGROUND: Malignant pleural effusions accumulate in the space between the visceral (inner) layer covering the lungs and the parietal (outer) layer covering the chest wall. Larger effusions compress the pulmonary parenchyma resulting in increasing dyspnoea. Treatment is always local and palliative. Among others, chemical pleurodesis using talc can be performed in selected patients. Talc is hydrated magnesium silicate (chemically H2Mg3(SiO3)4) and has been used for pleurodesis since 1935. Videothoracoscopic talc powder insufflation (talc poudrage) is the most effective.However, markers of inflammatory reactions to extraneous substances like talc are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to assess the course of local inflammatory changes in the pleural cavity after talc insufflation. METHODS: The Department of Cardiac Surgery of the Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital in Hradec Kralove, treated 47 patients aged 65 on average; 29 males and 18 females with proven recurrent malignant pleural effusion of various aetiologies from January 2009 to December 2010. They were retrospectively divided into group A (40 patients) without recurring effusion, and group B (7 patients) with recurring effusion and the need for thoracentesis or chest drainage during the 9-month monitoring. RESULTS: Major findings were made in soluble forms of cell receptors. Group B showed statistically higher levels of the anti-inflammatory form of sCD-163 receptor in pleural fluid before the talc poudrage. This showed limited ability to create an adequate inflammatory response to external stimuli. This group also showed lower levels of the inflammatory form of sTLR-2 receptor immediately after the talc insufflation. This revealed low local reactivity to external stimuli. The effect of the treatment was not influenced by morphologic tumour type. No statistically significant differences in postoperative complications were found. This confirmed the safety of both videothoracoscopy and treatment. CONCLUSIONS: There was no correlation between the type of malignant affection and the outcome of the chemical pleurodesis. Patients with relapsing effusion have higher values of concentration of anti-inflammatory sCD-163 in pleural fluid even before the application of talc, and lower levels of concentration of inflammatory sTLR-2 immediately after application of talc.

TLR2 in pleural fluid is modulated by talc particles during pleurodesis.

The aim of this study was to examine the role of TLR2 molecule in pleural space during thoracoscopic talc pleurodesis period in patients with malignant pleural effusion. We analyzed TLR2 molecule in soluble form as well as on membrane of granulocytes in pleural fluid. Pleural fluid examination was done at three intervals during pleurodesis procedure: 1st-before the thoracoscopic procedure, 2nd-2 hours after the terminating thoracoscopic procedure with talc insufflation, 3rd-24 hours after the thoracoscopic procedure. We reported significant increase of soluble TLR2 molecule in pleural fluid effusion during talc pleurodesis from preoperative value. This increase was approximately 8-fold in the interval of 24 hours. The changes on granulocyte population were quite different. The mean fluorescent intensity of membrane TLR2 molecule examined by flow cytometry on granulocyte population significantly decreased after talc exposure with comparison to prethoracoscopic density. To estimate the prognostic value of TLR2 expression in pleural fluid patients were retrospectively classified into either prognostically favourable or unfavourable groups. Our results proved that patients with favourable prognosis had more than 3-fold higher soluble TLR2 level in pleural fluid early, 2 hours after talc pleurodesis intervention.

Expression of urokinase plasminogen activator receptor on monocytes and granulocytes is modulated by cardiac surgery.

AIMS: Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is linked to the induction of the blood coagulation/fibrinolysis cascade, which is an integral component of inflammation induced by cardiac surgery. We followed the modulation of urokinase plasminogen activator receptor uPAR (CD87) separately for monocytes and granulocytes in blood of cardiac surgery patients. METHODS: Expression of uPAR, analyzed as Median Fluorescence Intensity (MFI), on blood monocytes and granulocytes was determined by flow cytometry. Changes in uPAR expression in patients undergoing CABG using standard cardiopulmonary bypass ("on-pump") were compared to the changes in uPAR expression in patients undergoing CABG using mini-invasive cardiopulmonary bypass ("mini on-pump"). RESULTS: In "on-pump" patients, the median of uPAR expression on granulocytes before surgery was 18.1 (InterQuartile Range (IQR): 15.6-20.4). uPAR expression was significantly decreased after surgery (p<0.001), on the first postoperative day (p<0.001), and on the third postoperative day (p<0.05). In "mini on-pump" patients, the median of uPAR expression on granulocytes before surgery was 15.2 (IRQ: 13.8-19.4). The significantly decreased uPAR expression was found only at the end of surgery (p<0.05). The similar pattern of uPAR expression was also found for monocytes. The preoperative level in "on-pump" patients was 23.3 (IRQ: 18.9-30.2). There was significantly decreased uPAR expression at the end of surgery (p<0.01) and at the first postoperative day (p<0.05). In "mini on-pump" patients, the preoperative uPAR expression was 16.9 (IQR: 14.5-20.2). Expression of uPAR was significantly decreased only after surgery (p<0.05). When comparing "onpump" patients to "mini on-pump" patients, no significant differences in the expression of uPAR were found. CONCLUSION: uPAR expression on granulocytes and monocytes is significantly modulated by cardiac surgery.

Expression of CD200/CD200R regulatory molecules on granulocytes and monocytes is modulated by cardiac surgical operation.

AIMS: Cardiac surgical operation is inseparably linked to the induction of an inflammatory response. Both humoral and cellular regulatory mechanisms are operating to maintain body homeostasis. We followed the changes in the expression of CD200/CD200R regulatory molecules on monocytes and granulocyte of cardiac surgical patients operated on using either standard (OP) or modified "mini-invasive" cardiopulmonary bypass (MOP). METHODS: Expression of CD200/CD200R regulatory molecules was determined by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The expression of CD200R on granulocytes was increased after surgery in both groups of patients, but the increase was statistically significant only in OP patients (p<0.01). At this time point, there was a significant difference in CD200R expression on granulocytes when comparing OP to MOP patients, being higher in the former group (p<0.01). The expression of CD200R on monocytes was diminished after surgery and during an early postoperative period in both groups of patients. The expression of CD200 on monocytes was significantly diminished after surgery in both groups (p<0.01). Nonetheless, we observed an increase in CD200 expression in OP patients at the 3rd postoperative day. There was a statistically significantly increased CD200 expression on monocytes of OP patients (p<0.001) at the 3rd postoperative day when we compared OP and MOP groups. The expression of CD200 on granulocytes was significantly higher after surgery and at the 3rd postoperative day in OP when compared to MOP patients. CONCLUSIONS: CD200R expression on granulocytes was significantly increased, while CD200 and CD200R expression on monocytes was decreased after cardiac surgery.

Significant change in ZAP-70 expression during the course of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

INTRODUCTION: It is widely accepted that expression of ZAP-70 in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) remains stable in time. However, data supporting this notion are surprisingly scarce. Therefore, we assessed expression of ZAP-70 in serial samples taken during the course of the disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied 44 patients with CLL diagnosed according to NCI-WG criteria (34 men, 10 women, median age 62, range, 36-81). A total of 104 samples were examined; all patients had at least two measurements. Median interval between the first and the second sample was 13 months (range, 2-36). ZAP-70 expression was detected by flow cytometry using phycoerythrin-conjugated monoclonal antibody clone 1E7.2 and negative isotype control. Twenty percent of positive cells were considered as the threshold of positivity. RESULTS: Significant change in ZAP-70 expression (i.e. from positivity to negativity and vice versa) was detected in 15/44 patients (34%). Interestingly, 7/8 patients whose ZAP-70 expression converted to positivity had unmutated IgVH genes. In addition, the conversion was accompanied by clinical progression or relapse in all but one patient. On the other hand, 5/7 patients with loss of ZAP-70 had stable clinical course. One patient became ZAP-70-negative during treatment with prednisone for autoimmune hemolytic anemia. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to commonly accepted opinion, significant change in ZAP-70 expression in time was detected in a substantial proportion of our patients with CLL. While the conversion to ZAP-70 negativity was found predominantly in patients with stable disease, change to positivity was typical in patients with unmutated IgVH genes at the time of progression or relapse. Based on our pilot results, repeated assessment of ZAP-70 expression might be especially useful at the time of progression or relapse in patients who were initially ZAP-70-negative.

Serum level of sCD163, a soluble receptor for hemoglobin, is influenced by cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: The scavenger receptor for complexes hemoglobin-haptoglobin (CD163), which is expressed on monocytes/ macrophages, is shed to the body fluids in a soluble form (sCD163). OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the dynamics of sCD163 in the blood of patients undergoing cardiac surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-one adult patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) were enrolled in the study. They were assigned to undergo CABG using either cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), "on-pump", (22 patients), modified CPB, mini "on-pump", (17 patients) or without CPB, "off-pump", (22 patients) surgery. Serum levels of sCD163 in venous blood samples taken before and after surgery, and during an early postoperative period, were evaluated by Macro 163(TM) diagnostic kit (IQ Products, Groningen, NL). RESULTS: Compared to the preoperative levels ("on-pump"; 344 ng/mL, "off-pump"; 314.5 ng/mL, mini-invasive "on-pump"; 336.5 ng/mL) serum levels were elevated at the finish of surgery, reaching maximum at the 1(st) postoperative day ("onpump"; 658 ng/mL; p<0.05, "off-pump"; 810.5 ng/mL; p<0.01; mini-invasive "on-pump"; 663 ng/mL; non-significant).No significant differences regarding the serum levels of sCD163 between different surgical approaches were found. CONCLUSION: Serum level of sCD163 scavenger molecule for hemoglobin is elevated at the end of surgery and at the 1(st) postoperative day, being little influenced by cardiopulmonary bypass.

Biological prognostic markers in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most frequent leukemic disease of adults in the Western world. It is remarkable by an extraordinary heterogeneity of clinical course with overall survival ranging from several months to more than 15 years. Classical staging sytems by Rai and Binet, while readily available and useful for initial assessment of prognosis, are not able to determine individual patient's ongoing clinical course of CLL at the time of diagnosis, especially in early stages. Therefore, newer biological prognostic parameters are currently being clinically evaluated. Mutational status of variable region of immunoglobulin heavy chain genes (IgVH), cytogenetic aberrations, and both intracellular ZAP-70 and surface CD38 expression are recognized as parameters with established prognostic value. Molecules regulating the process of angiogenesis are also considered as promising markers. The purpose of this review is to summarize in detail the specific role of these prognostic factors in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Scavenger receptor CD163 and its biological functions.

CD163 is a member of scavenger receptor super family class B of the first subgroup. It is mapped to the region p13 on chromosome 12. Five different isoforms of CD163 have been described, which differ in the structure of their cytoplasmic domains and putative phosporylation sites. This scavenger receptor is selectively expressed on cells of monocytes and macrophages lineage exclusively. CD163 immunological function is essentially homeostatic. It also has other functions because participates in adhesion to endothelial cells, in tolerance induction and tissues regeneration. Other very important function of CD163 is the clearance of hemoglobin in its cell-free form and participation in anti-inflammation in its soluble form, exhibiting cytokine-like functions. We review the biological functions of CD163 which have been discovered until now. It seems apparent from this review that CD163 scavenger receptor can be used as biomarker in different diseases and as a valuable diagnostic parameter for prognosis of many diseases especially inflammatory disorders and sepsis.

RANK/RANKL expression is induced by cardiac surgical operation.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac surgery provokes a systemic inflammatory response in any patient. This complex body reaction involves also RANK/RANKL molecules which have been recently identified as principal regulators of bone metabolism. AIMS: To follow the changes in the expression of RANK/RANKL molecules on innate immune cells of cardiac surgical patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-six patients undergoing cardiac surgical were assigned to undergo coronary artery bypass grafting using either cardiopulmonary bypass ("on-pump") or modified "miniinvasive on-pump". The expression of RANK/RANKL was performed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Significantly increased expression of RANK on monocytes of "miniinvasive on-pump" patients was found at the 1st, the 3nd, and 7th postoperative days. The similar pattern was found also for monocyte RANKL expression. In addition, RANKL expression was significantly increased at the 3rd postoperative day in "on-pump" patient. No significant differences between "miniinvasive on-pump" and "on-pump" cardiac surgical patients were found. CONCLUSION: The expression of both RANK and RANKL molecules is significantly enhanced on monocytes of "miniinvasive on-pump" cardiac surgical patients.

The effect of cardiac surgery on peripheral blood lymphocyte populations.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is associated with some adverse postoperative complications caused by an altered immune response. An alternative approach to cardiac surgery, operating without the use of CPB (i.e. off-pump surgery), seems to display less adverse impacts on the immune response. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Peripheral blood lymphocytes in 40 patients undergoing cardiac surgery either with CPB ("on-pump") or without CPB ("off-pump") were followed using flow cytometry. The samples of peripheral blood were taken at five intervals: preoperatively, after termination of the surgery, on the first, on the third and on the seventh postoperative day, respectively. RESULTS: The most substantial changes appeared on the first postoperative day in both subgroups of patients. While the percentage of both total T cells and CD4+ T cells were decreased, the percentage of HLA-DR+ activated lymphocytes was increased. These changes were more profound in the "on-pump" subgroup compared to the "off-pump" subgroup. CONCLUSION: Our results may suggest that the "off-pump" surgical approach reveals less adverse impact on adaptive immune responses.

The expression of CD38 ADP-ribosyl cyclase ectoenzyme in immune cells of cardiac surgical patients.

BACKGROUND: This study was aimed at following the changes in the expression of CD38 ADP-ribosyl cyclase ectoenzyme on peripheral blood immune cells of patients undergoing cardiac surgical operations. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The expression of CD38 on lymphoid and myeloid cells was determined by immunofluorescence and flow cytometry in forty cardiac surgical patients assigned to surgery either using ("on-pump", n=20) or without the use ("off-pump", n=20) of cardiopulmonary bypass. RESULTS: There was a very rapid upregulation of CD38 expression in "on-pump" patients, becoming significant at declamping of aorta (p<0.01) for myeloid cells and at the weaning from CPB (p<0.001) for lymphocytes. The increased expression of CD38 on lymphocytes in "off-pump" patients was prolonged for the entire observation period. However, significant differences in the expression of CD38 between "on-pump" and "off-pump" patients were not found either in lymphoid or myeloid cells. CONCLUSION: CD38 expression in immune cells of cardiac surgical patients is upregulated early during surgery, providing additional activation stimuli to the cell substrate of the inflammatory response induced by cardiac surgery.

Early expression of FcgammaRI (CD64) on monocytes of cardiac surgical patients and higher density of monocyte anti-inflammatory scavenger CD163 receptor in "on-pump" patients.

OBJECTIVE: Activation of innate immunity cells is inseparably linked to cardiac surgical operation. The aim of this study was to assess the kinetics in the expression of receptor for Fc part of IgG, FcgammaRI (CD64), and scavenger receptor CD163 on peripheral blood cells of cardiac surgical patients and to examine the effect of cardiac bypass as a separable influence on the systemic acute inflammatory response. METHODS: Forty patients, twenty in each group, were randomly assigned to CABG surgery performed either with "on-pump" or without "off-pump" cardiopulmonary bypass. Standardized quantitative flow cytometry method was used to determine the expression of surface markers. RESULTS: The density of CD64 molecule on monocytes reached maximum on the 1st postoperative day (P<.001) whereas the peak for CD64 molecule expression on granulocytes was postponed to the 3rd postoperative day (P<.001). The expression of CD163 scavenger molecule on monocytes reached maximum on the 1st postoperative day (P<.001). The density of CD163 molecule on monocytes on the 1st postoperative day is significantly higher in "on-pump" patients in comparison with "off-pump" patients (P<.001). CONCLUSION: In cardiac surgical patients the expression of activation marker FcgammaR1 (CD64) on monocytes is increased earlier in comparison with granulocytes in both "on-pump" and "off-pump" patients. The expression of scavenger molecule CD163 on monocytes is significantly higher in "on-pump" patients.

Lipopolysaccharide binding protein and sCD14 are not produced as acute phase proteins in cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVES: The changes in the serum levels of lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) and sCD14 during cardiac surgery were followed in this study. DESIGN: Thirty-four patients, 17 in each group, were randomly assigned to coronary artery bypass grafting surgery performed either with ("on-pump") or without ("off-pump") cardiopulmonary bypass. LBP and sCD14 were evaluated by ELISA. RESULTS: The serum levels of LBP were gradually increased from the 1st postoperative day and reached their maximum on the 3rd postoperative day in both "on-pump" and "off-pump" patients (30.33+/-9.96 microg/mL; 37.99+/-16.58 microg/mL), respectively. There were no significant differences between "on-pump" and "off-pump" patients regarding LBP. The significantly increased levels of sCD14 from the 1st up to the 7th postoperative day in both "on-pump" and "off-pump" patients were found with no significant differences between these groups. No correlations between LBP and sCD14 and IL-6, CRP and long pentraxin PTX3 levels were found. CONCLUSIONS: The levels of LBP and sCD14 are elevated in cardiac surgical patients being similar in both groups. These molecules are not produced as acute phase proteins in these patients.

The multidrug resistance and apoptosis evaluation in acute myeloid leukemia cells after the in vitro doxorubicin treatment.

The apoptosis failure in cytostatic treatment of haemoblastosis is one of the means of chemoresistance. We were interested in the relationship of the after-doxorubicin-treatment-AML cells apoptosis and the immunophenotype, selected clinical and laboratory parameters, and also the P-gp, MRP, LRP, Bcl-2, Bax proteins expression. All analysis were evaluated with the flow cytometry method. To detect apoptotic cells in the sample, we used three methods: annexin test, TUNEL (TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling) test, and caspase 8 detection. After the cell cultivation the statisticaly important increase of apoptotic cells in the culture was apparent. The relation between the AML blast in vitro reaction and some clinical parameters such as the age of patient, white blood cell count, and blast percentage was also observed.