Prognostic significance of activated cytotoxic T-lymphocytes in primary nodal diffuse large B-cell lymphomas.

Clinical outcome in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) remains unpredictable, despite the identification of clinical prognostic parameters. Here, we investigated in pretreatment biopsies of 70 patients with DLBCL whether numbers of activated cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs), as determined by the percentage of CD3-positive lymphocytes with granzyme B (GrB) expression, have similar prognostic value as found earlier in Hodgkin's lymphoma and anaplastic large-cell lymphoma and whether loss of major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-I molecules or expression of the GrB antagonist protease inhibitor 9 (PI9) may explain immune escape from CTL-mediated cell death. Independent of the International Prognostic Index (IPI), the presence of >/=15% activated CTLs was strongly associated with failure to reach complete remission, with a poor progression-free and overall survival time. Downregulation of MHC-I light- and/or heavy-chain expression was found in 41% of interpretable cases and in 19 of 56 interpretable cases PI9 expression was detected. We conclude that a high percentage of activated CTLs is a strong, IPI independent, indicator for an unfavorable clinical outcome in patients with primary nodal DLBCL. Although in part of DLBCL expression of PI9 and loss of MHC-I expression was found, providing a possible immune-escape mechanism in these cases, no correlation with clinical outcome was found.

Blood donation, a risk for epileptic patients?

Generally patients with epilepsy will not be accepted as blood donors by blood banks. A survey in the Dutch blood banks revealed two blood banks with a total of 13 donors suffering from epilepsy. We also questioned the Chapters of the International League against Epilepsy. The answers on a national and international level differed widely. We believe that the rare convulsion during blood donation is not an epileptic seizure, but in fact an emotive syncope. We advocate the acceptance of patients with epilepsy, free of seizures for 2 years irrespective of their medication, as blood donors.

Erythrocyte metabolism in purine nucleoside phosphorylase deficiency after enzyme replacement therapy by infusion of erythrocytes.

Purine nucleoside phosphorylase deficiency is associated with a severely defective T-cell immunity. A patient with purine nucleoside phosphorylase deficiency was treated with transfusions of irradiated erythrocytes and plasma. This resulted in a remarkable correction of the metabolic disturbances in the patient. The urinary excretion of inosine, deoxyinosine, guanosine, and deoxyguanosine decreased, whereas uric acid excretion as well as serum uric acid concentration increased. It could be shown that the enzyme activity of the circulating erythrocytes correlated inversely with the urinary excretion of nucleosides and directly with the excretion of uric acid. As a consequence of the therapy, several glycolytic intermediates of the erythrocytes were increased, especially 2,3-diphosphoglycerate. The high 2,3-diphosphoglycerate level caused a shift to the right of the oxygen dissociation curve (P50 = 32.9 mm Hg). The immunological status of the patient showed definite improvement after the enzyme replacement therapy.

A patient with purine nucleoside phosphorylase deficiency: enzymological and metabolic aspects.

1. Enzymological and metabolic data in a patient with nucleoside phosphorylase (NP) deficiency are described. 2. Incubation of intact NP-deficient red cells with [14C]adenosine showed a rapid uptake and conversion to inosine. Almost no radioactivity was incorporated in the adenosine nucleotides and no hypoxanthine labeling could be detected. 3. Incubation with [14C]inosine resulted in a rapid conversion to IMP in the normal intact red cells but in an accumulation of inosine in the medium with the erythrocytes of the patient, proving again that a NP deficiency is present. 4. The high PRPP level found may result from impaired consumption due to lack of substrates for the salvage enzyme HGPRT. 5. Incubation with [14C]hypoxanthine and [14C]adenine showed that normal HGPRT and APRT activities were present in the NP-deficient red cells. 6. In serum and urine of the patient the levels of inosine and guanosine were considerably increased, while the serum and urinary levels of uric acid were very low. In the two deceased sisters NP deficiency was also strongly suggested by analyses of the serum purines, of stored deep frozen samples.