Polycythemia vera: analysis of DNA from blood granulocytes using comparative genomic hybridization.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The diagnosis of polycythemia vera (PV) is supported by the finding of an abnormal karyotype in patients with erythrocytosis. However, most PV patients have normal marrow cytogenetics at presentation and there is reluctance to use this test routinely. Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) is a cytogenetic screening technique that analyzes interphase cells. This approach offers practical advantages over conventional cytogenetics and interphase fluorescence in-situ hybridization (IFISH). We have therefore evaluated the diagnostic utility of CGH applied to blood granulocytes in PV. DESIGN AND METHODS: Blood granulocytes from 17 PV patients were analyzed using CGH and the results compared with those from previous conventional cytogenetics and IFISH studies. RESULTS: Three patients had abnormal CGH profiles. One case had gain of 9p. This patient had normal IFISH results using a centromere-9 probe. The second case had complete gain of chromosomes 8 and 9 and the third had complete gain of chromosome 9, all confirmed by IFISH: Cytogenetics had not been performed in two of these cases and had failed in the third. Three cases with 20q deletion according to cytogenetics and/or IFISH, were normal by CGH. The remaining subjects were normal by all methods. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: CGH analysis of blood granulocytes can detect the chromosome gains commonly observed in PV. However, CGH cannot be relied on to detect 20q deletions, which are the most frequent cytogenetic abnormality in PV. Thus, CGH has a role in the diagnosis and follow-up of PV patients, but must be used in conjunction with other methods.

The incidences of trisomy 8, trisomy 9 and D20S108 deletion in polycythaemia vera: an analysis of blood granulocytes using interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization.

We have used interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (IFISH) to detect trisomy 8, trisomy 9 and 20q deletion in circulating granulocytes from patients with polycythaemia vera (PV). Out of 64 PV patients, 15 (23%) exhibited an abnormality. Two patients had trisomy 9, three had trisomy 8 and 10 patients had hemizygous deletion of D20S108 (a locus in the 20q common deleted region). Aberrant nuclei ranged from 10% to 80% in these 15 cases. There was no correlation between the presence of a marker and sex, age, interval between presentation and IFISH analysis, neutrophil or platelet count or therapy. Conventional marrow cytogenetic karyotype results were available in 23 cases and there was concurrence between these and blood IFISH in 16 cases (13 normal and three with 20q/D20S108 deletion by both methods). Three patients with D20S108 deletion by IFISH were normal by previous marrow cytogenetic testing and four cases with 20q deletion by previous marrow cytogenetics had normal blood granulocytes according to IFISH. Thus, we confirm that trisomies 8 and 9 and deletion of 20q are diagnostically useful markers of PV. IFISH analysis of blood granulocytes is a practical method for detecting these markers, but as an adjunct to, not as a substitute for, conventional marrow cytogenetics.

Efficient syntheses of (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxy-4'-thiouridine; a nucleoside analogue with potent biological activity.

(E)-5-(2-Bromovinyl)-2'-deoxy-4'-thiouridine (S-BVDU) is a potent antiherpesvirus agent and its use in gene therapy as an anticancer agent has recently been described. We here outline 2 efficient methods for the synthesis of S-BVDU. The decision as to which method is to be used depends upon the starting materials available but starting from BVU, an overall yield of beta-nucleoside of 35% can be expected. From 5-ethyl-2'-deoxy-4'-thiouridine, radical bromination using bromine will give a quantitative conversion to S-BVDU if unreacted starting material is recycled (50%) or using N-bromosuccinimide, a one step yield in excess of 80% can be obtained.

Erythrocytosis due to a mutation in the erythropoietin receptor gene.

Familial erythrocytosis, associated with high haemoglobin levels and low serum erythropoietin (Epo), has been shown to co-segregate with a sequence repeat polymorphism at the 5' region of the erythropoietin receptor (EpoR) in a large Finnish family. We have investigated the cause of erythrocytosis in an English boy. Sequencing of the cytoplasmic region of the EpoR detected a de novo transition mutation of G to A at nucleotide 6002. This mutation resulted in the formation of a stop codon at amino acid 439 with the loss of 70 amino acids from the carboxy terminus. The mutation (G6002A) has arisen independently in a Finnish family and de novo in this English boy. Patients with unexplained erythrocytosis and low serum Epo levels should be investigated for EpoR mutations.

The importance of growth hormone in the regulation of erythropoiesis, red cell mass, and plasma volume in adults with growth hormone deficiency.

Total body water (TBW) is reduced in adult GH deficiency (GHD) largely due to a reduction of extracellular water. It is unknown whether total blood volume (TBV) contributes to the reduced extracellular water in GHD. GH and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) have been demonstrated to stimulate erythropoiesis in vitro, in animal models, and in growing children. Whether GH has a regulatory effect on red cell mass (RCM) in adults is not known. We analyzed body composition by bioelectrical impedance and used standard radionuclide dilution methods to measure RCM and plasma volume (PV) along with measuring full blood count, ferritin, vitamin B12, red cell folate, IGF-I, IGF-binding protein-3, and erythropoietin in 13 adult patients with GHD as part of a 3-month, double blind, placebo-controlled trial of GH (0.036 U/kg.day). TBW and lean body mass significantly increased by 2.5 +/- 0.53 kg (mean +/- SEM; P < 0.004) and 3.4 +/- 0.73 kg (P < 0.004), respectively, and fat mass significantly decreased by 2.4 +/- 0.32 kg (P < 0.001) in the GH-treated group. The baseline RCM of all patients with GHD was lower than the predicted normal values (1635 +/- 108 vs. 1850 +/- 104 mL; P < 0.002). GH significantly increased RCM, PV, and TBV by 183 +/- 43 (P < 0.006), 350 +/- 117 (P < 0.03), and 515 +/- 109 (P < 0.004) mL, respectively. The red cell count increased by 0.36 +/- 0.116 x 10(12)/L (P < 0.03) with a decrease in ferritin levels by 39.1 +/- 4.84 micrograms/L (P < 0.001) after GH treatment. Serum IGF-I and IGF-binding protein-3 concentrations increased by 3.0 +/- 0.43 (P < 0.001) and 1.3 +/- 0.15 (P < 0.001) SD, respectively, but the erythropoietin concentration was unchanged after GH treatment. No significant changes in body composition or blood volume were recorded in the placebo group. Significant positive correlations could be established between changes in TBW and TBV, lean body mass and TBV (r = 0.78; P < 0.04 and r = 0.77; P < 0.04, respectively), and a significant negative correlation existed between changes in fat mass and changes in TBV in the GH-treated group (r = -0.95; P < 0.02). We conclude that 1) erythropoiesis is impaired in GHD; 2) GH stimulates erythropoiesis in adult GHD; and 3) GH increases PV and TBV, which may contribute to the increased exercise performance seen in these patients.

Spleen sizing by ultrasound in polycythaemia and thrombocythaemia: comparison with SPECT.

Detection of non-palpable early splenic enlargement may aid diagnosis of primary polycythaemia (PP) and primary thrombocythaemia (PT). In this study linear spleen sizing by ultrasound has been compared with spleen volume estimation by single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) in 26 patients. Spleen length by ultrasound correlated well with SPECT volume estimation. Ultrasound spleen length was also measured in 60 normal control subjects where the upper limit of the 95% reference range was 11.6 cm. Changes in spleen length with both age and body weight were substantial and overshadowed the imperfect reproducibility of this method. Therefore, interpretation of an individual's measured spleen length should be in relation to that predicted for adults of the same age and weight, particularly at the extremes of the younger, heavier patients and also the older, lighter patients. Ultrasound spleen lengths of different patient groups (21 PP, 26 PT, 17 idiopathic erythrocytosis, 12 secondary polycythaemia, nine apparent polycythaemia) were compared both using the measured overall reference range and the differences from the values predicted for their age and weight. The comparison showed that almost all patients with PP whose spleens were not palpable had spleen lengths greater than the upper limit for the normal control group, but separation from the other patient groups was incomplete. Detection of non-palpable splenomegaly by ultrasound length should remain a 'minor' criterion amongst the 'proposed modified diagnostic criteria' of PP.

Diagnostic applications of haemopoietic progenitor culture techniques in polycythaemias and thrombocythaemias.

Clonogenic cultures support the proliferation of haemopoietic cells into colonies of differentiated progeny. Using these techniques it has been established that normal haemopoietic progenitors are dependent upon growth factors for their survival, proliferation and differentiation in vitro. However, progenitors from patients with polycythaemia vera (PV) generate erythroid colonies in cultures deprived of exogenous erythropoietin. These have been termed endogenous erythroid colonies (EEC). Recently, endogenous megakaryocytic colonies (EMC), those arising in assays without megakaryocyte growth factors, have been reported, particularly in patients with primary thrombocythaemia (PT). Many investigators have found an EEC positive culture to have 100% diagnostic specificity and sensitivity for PV. Similarly, EMC have been shown by some to be an unequivocal marker of PT. Accordingly, clonogenic assays for EEC and EMC have been advocated as diagnostic markers of PV and PT. However, the specificity of these assays is not universally attested to as there are some reports of EEC in patients with secondary polycythaemia and of EEC and EMC in normal subjects. Thus, for diagnostic use, EEC and EMC assays must be exhaustively validated for specificity using clinically appropriate controls. Furthermore, clonogenic culture techniques are not amenable to external quality assurance, are technically demanding and are unlikely to be available in most haematology laboratories. These considerations must be taken into account when assigning weighting to EEC and EMC assays as diagnostic criteria in myeloproliferative disorders.

Identification of latent myeloproliferative disease in patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome using X-chromosome inactivation patterns and in vitro erythroid colony formation.

Some patients with an early or latent myeloproliferative disorder (MPD) present with Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS, hepatic vein thrombosis). Cell culture analysis of erythroid progenitors (BFU-E) can be used to discriminate primary from secondary MPD and examination of X-chromosome inactivation (in females) can be used to demonstrate clonality in neoplastic tissues. The present study used these techniques to examine whether a group of 7 female patients who presented with BCS had evidence to support a diagnosis of MPD. Unilateral X-inactivation and therefore clonality can be studied in females heterozygous for X-linked restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) by differences in methylation between active and inactive chromosomes. Probes for two polymorphic loci, phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK, at Xq13.3 [BstX1 RFLP]) and M27 beta (an anonymous locus DXS255 at Xp11.22 [Pst1 RFLP]) were used to study methylation patterns. All 7 patients were heterozygous using M27 beta and 2/7 were also heterozygous using the PGK probe. Polyclonal patterns of X-inactivation in granulocytes were demonstrated in 3/7, a skewed/monoclonal pattern in 1/7 and aberrant patterns in 3/7 using M27 beta. Two patients who had aberrant patterns of X inactivation with M27 beta demonstrated a skewed/monoclonal pattern with PGK. The results of BFU-E growth patterns and clonality were entirely concordant in 5/6 patients. Thus X-chromosome inactivation patterns, in conjunction with erythroid colony studies, can be used to assist in the diagnosis of an underlying MPD in BCS.

Low serum erythropoietin--a strong diagnostic criterion of primary polycythaemia even at normal haemoglobin levels.

Estimations of serum erythropoietin level by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) kit were made in 42 patients with primary polycythaemia, and in a comparison group consisting of 41 patients with secondary polycythaemia and 47 patients with idiopathic erythrocytosis. The majority of patients with primary polycythaemia were undergoing treatment by venesection and therefore had Hb levels in the normal range at the time of erythropoietin estimation. In primary polycythaemia, 64% of the first samples taken from each patient were below the reference range for serum erythropoietin in normal individuals. When two samples were taken from each patient 72% had low values in one or both samples. In the comparison group, analysis of those patients who had two samples taken showed only one individual with secondary polycythaemia and none with idiopathic erythrocytosis who had a serum erythropoietin level below the reference range. The finding of low serum erythropoietin in patients with primary polycythaemia, even when Hb levels are normal due to venesection, is of high diagnostic specificity (few false positive results) and useful diagnostic sensitivity (28% false negative results). It is proposed that future diagnostic criteria of primary polycythaemia should include the finding of a serum erythropoietin level below the lower limit of normal in at least one of two serum samples taken on different occasions.

Activated phenotype in neutrophils and monocytes from patients with primary proliferative polycythaemia.

AIM: To investigate whether monocytes and neutrophils from patients with primary proliferative polycythaemia (PPP) exhibit increased expression of markers of cell activation and, if so, whether they are associated with the phagocytic activity of these cells and concentrations of circulating cytokines. METHODS: Expression of CD11b, CD14, CD18, and CD64 on monocytes and neutrophils was assessed by flow cytometry. Phagocytosis was analysed using immunoglobulin opsonised Escherichia coli. Serum concentrations of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte-macrophage CSF (GM-CSF) and macrophage CSF (M-CSF) were determined by bioassays, and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Patients with PPP (n = 18), when compared with normal subjects (n = 10), had increased percentages of CD64+ monocytes (52% v 36%) and neutrophils (42% v 11%) and of CD14+ neutrophils (36% v 18%). Monocytes from patients with PPP exhibited increased expression of CD64 (47 v 26) and of CD11b (65 v 36). These abnormalities were not found in patients with secondary (n = 8) or apparent (n = 13) polycythaemia. The percentage of neutrophils undergoing phagocytosis was higher in patients with PPP (mean 64%; n = 6) than in normal subjects (mean 42%; n = 5). G-CSF, GM-CSF and IFN-gamma concentrations in patients' serum samples were comparable with normal; M-CSF was not detected in any of the samples. There was no correlation between cytokine concentrations and the expression of CD11b, CD14, CD18, and CD64 on patients' phagocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Increased expression of CD11b and CD64 by monocytes, increased percentages of CD14+ and CD64+ neutrophils and the high phagocytic activity of neutrophils suggests that these cells are activated in vivo in patients with PPP. The phenotypic changes of PPP phagocytes were not associated with increased concentrations of circulating cytokines and probably reflect intrinsic abnormalities within the neoplastic PPP clone.

Idiopathic erythrocytosis--additional new study techniques suggest a heterogenous group.

25 patients with idiopathic erythrocytosis (absolute increase in red cell mass without conventional criteria of primary polycythaemia or known underlying cause) have been further studied for evidence of primary or secondary polycythaemia. Additional non-conventional criteria used were: platelet distribution width, platelet nucleotide ratio, serum erythropoietin, clinical evidence of ischaemic vascular disease and erythroid culture variables in serum-free system. All had been used in an earlier study in score form to assist in the diagnosis of primary polycythaemia. These patients were also newly assessed for the presence of hypoxia (supine oximeter values, history suggestive of sleep apnoea), for renal lesions and for splenic enlargement (impalpable) by ultrasound or computerized tomography. 7 patients had erythroid culture scores suggesting primary polycythaemia but the addition of non-culture criteria did not result in any scores more strongly predictive of primary polycythaemia. Supine oximeter values < 92% suggested hypoxaemia as the mechanism of polycythaemia in 3 patients in whom it had not previously been suspected. Some splenic enlargement (impalpable) was demonstrated in 6 patients, only 1 of whom had erythroid culture scores suggesting primary polycythaemia. 12 patients had confirmed, raised erythropoietin levels. We conclude that idiopathic erythrocytosis refers to a heterogenous group of patients. Features of primary or secondary polycythaemia may be demonstrated in some of them by additional new study techniques. The raised erythropoietin values found in half the patients were unexpected.

T lymphocyte subpopulations in patients with B-cell chronic lymphocyte leukaemia: relationship to infective episodes.

Patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL) have an increased susceptibility to infection. Quantitative abnormalities of T-cells have been previously reported in B-CLL, although the relationship between such abnormalities and the incidence of infection still remains to be established. We therefore enumerated lymphocyte subpopulations in 22 patients with B-CLL grouped according to the number of infective episodes in the previous three years. No significant differences were found between the patient groups and the mean number of T-cells subsets (helper, suppressor, suppressor-inducer and suppressor effector) or NK cells, but patients with frequent infections were found to have significantly higher CD5+ B-cell counts. Thus, we confirm that T-cell subpopulations are numerically altered in patients with B-CLL, but found that such changes are not predictive of susceptibility to infection. Our results however suggest that the malignant B-cells may exhibit immunosuppressive activity.

IgG subclass levels in patients with B cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

Patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (BCLL) have low levels of serum IgG. In order to determine if this is a pan IgG deficiency or a selective suppression of one or more IgG subclasses, levels of IgG 1, 2, 3 and 4 in nine BCLL patients were determined and compared to those of nine age and sex matched controls. No significant differences were found in the levels of IgG1 and IgG2, but the patients were found to have significantly lower levels of IgG3 (p < 0.05) and IgG4 (p < 0.05). Selective deficiencies of these isotypes may explain the particular pattern of infection seen in BCLL patients.

Circulating megakaryocytic progenitor cells in patients with primary thrombocythaemia and reactive thrombocytosis: results using a serum-deprived culture assay and a positive detection technique.

A serum-free culture method was used to study the growth of megakaryocytic progenitor cells (CFU-Meg) from patients with elevated platelet counts. The culture technique was combined with immunocytochemistry (APAAP, CD61) for the identification of CFU-Meg derived cells in cytopreparations of cells eluted from the culture dishes. Twenty-six patients with primary thrombocythaemia (14 untreated patients, UPT, 12 treated patients, TPT), 14 patients with reactive thrombocytosis (RT) and 9 normal individuals were studied. Unstimulated growth of CD61-positive cells was detected in 8/14 UPT, 8/12 TPT, 12/14 RT and 5/9 normal subjects (with mean CD61-positive cell counts of 75, 579, 236 and 7 per cytopreparation respectively). Cultures supplemented with interleukin 3 contained CD61-positive cells in 11/14 UPT, 7/12 TPT, 14/14 RT and 5/9 normal subjects (with mean CD61-positive cell counts of 157, 589, 250 and 7 per cytopreparation respectively). Thus, this serum-free culture technique combined with sensitive positive identification of CFU-Meg derived cells failed to discriminate between PT and RT. These results cast doubt on the usefulness of serum-free culture assays for the detection of unstimulated CFU-Meg growth in the differential diagnosis of patients with elevated platelet counts.

The in vitro effects of stem cell factor, interleukin 3 and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor on haemopoietic progenitor cells from premature infants.

Circulating haemopoietic progenitor cells from premature infants were assessed for their ability to respond to interleukin 3, granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor and stem cell factor (SCF) in vitro. All three cytokines increased the number of colonies derived from burst forming units erythroid (BFU-E), colony forming units granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) and multi-lineage progenitors (CFU-Mix) grown in the presence of erythropoietin (Epo). The size and haemoglobin content of BFU-E derived colonies also increased in the presence of the cytokines. Of those tested, SCF was found to be the most potent additive to Epo for the enhanced growth of BFU-E and CFU-Mix. In short-term liquid cultures without Epo, SCF alone induced globin synthesizing cells. Progenitors from premature infants were at least as responsive to all three cytokines as those from healthy adults. The use of SCF in combination with Epo in the prevention or treatment of anaemia in premature infants warrants further investigation.

Serum erythropoietin and circulating BFU-E in patients with multiple myeloma and anaemia but without renal failure.

In 30 patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and mild to moderate anaemia (mean Hb 107 g/l, 95% confidence limit (CL) 102-113) but no evidence of renal failure (serum creatinine < 110 mumol/l), serum erythropoietin (EPO) showed significant inverse logarithmic correlation with the haemoglobin level (r = -0.57, p = 0.001). The observed/expected ratio of log-EPO in patients with MM (mean 0.96, CL 0.89-1.04) was similar to that of 119 subjects (mean 1.01, CL 0.96-1.05) with or without anaemia (mean Hb 116 g/L, CL 110-121) but without renal failure. The concentration of circulating erythroid progenitors (BFU-E) in 10 MM patients in plateau phase was significantly reduced (mean 0.70 x 10(5)/l of blood, CL 0.34-1.06) compared to that of 8 normal controls (mean 3.57, CL 1.60-5.55, p = 0.011) In vitro sensitivity of the BFU-E to EPO in the patients with MM was comparable to that of the normal controls. It appears that in MM there is an appropriate EPO response to anaemia but even in the plateau phase the number of circulating BFU-E is reduced, reflecting a degree of marrow failure. However, the progenitors are normally sensitive to EPO in such patients, and therapeutic doses of EPO may correct the anaemia by a pharmacological rather than a physiological effect.