[Establishment and Applications of Double-Fluorescent Protein Allo-Transplantation Mice Model].

OBJECTIVE: To establish allo-transplantation model by using mRFP⁺ to eGFP⁺ transgenic mice and to observe the distribution of donor cells and donor-recipient cellular interaction in the bone marrow after semi-solid decalcification (SSD). METHODS: After myeloablative irradiation, C57BL/6 female eGFP⁺ transgenic mice were infused with (5 × 106) bone marrow cells from FVB male donor mice through tail vein. The control group was infused with PBS. Then the general conditions, engraftment level, hematopoietic recovery, incidence of GVHD and survival of recipients were evaluated after transplantation. In the recovery process, SSD was used to treat the femora before observing the cells distribution, morphology and interaction by confocal microscopy directly or after making frozen section. RESULTS: WBC of recipient eGFP⁺ mice was recovered on (20 ± 3.07) d, (93.94 ± 1.59)% in peripheral cells were RFP⁺ cells (n = 10), GVHD happened in 4 of 10 mice within 1 month. During SSD, the hard components were replaced gradually and RFP⁺ cells could be seen mainly in the bone trabecula and surrounded by eGFP⁺ cells under confocal microscope, their interactions could be further observed clearly in bone marrow microenvironment in three-dimensional reconstruction. CONCLUSION: The double fluorescent allo-transplantation mouse model successfully established, by means of our novel protocol named SSD, the donor and recipient cell location and their interaction can be visually observed, which provides the basis for clinical studies on the distribution and homing of donor cells, and some related explorations after transplantation.

Immunophenotypes and immune markers associated with acute promyelocytic leukemia prognosis.

CD2+, CD34+, and CD56+ immunophenotypes are associated with poor prognoses of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). The present study aimed to explore the role of APL immunophenotypes and immune markers as prognostic predictors on clinical outcomes. A total of 132 patients with de novo APL were retrospectively analyzed. Immunophenotypes were determined by flow cytometry. Clinical features, complete remission (CR), relapse, and five-year overall survival (OS) rate were assessed and subjected to multivariate analyses. The CD13+CD33+HLA-DR-CD34- immunophenotype was commonly observed in patients with APL. Positive rates for other APL immune markers including cMPO, CD117, CD64, and CD9 were 68.7%, 26%, 78.4%, and 96.6%, respectively. When compared with patients with CD2- APL, patients with CD2+ APL had a significantly higher incidence of early death (50% versus 15.7%; P = 0.016), lower CR rate (50% versus 91.1%; P = 0.042), and lower five-year OS rate (41.7% versus 74.2%; P = 0.018). White blood cell (WBC) count before treatment was found to be the only independent risk factor of early death, CR failure, and five-year mortality rate. Flow cytometric immunophenotype analysis can facilitate prompt APL diagnosis. Multivariate analysis has demonstrated that WBC count before treatment is the only known independent risk factor that predicts prognosis for APL in this study population.

[Anti-apoptotic effect of Astragalus Polysaccharide on myeloid cells].

This study was aimed to assess the effect of Astragalus Polysaccharide (ASPS) on in-vitro hematopoiesis. CFU-GM assays were used to determine the effect of ASPS and thrombopoietin (TPO) on granulocytic-monocyte progenitor cells. The CFU assays were also used to investigate the effect of ASPS on the proliferation of HL-60 cells.HL-60 cells were cultured with serum-free RPMI 1640 medium and treated with or without of different concentrations of ASPS. After 72 h incubation, the number of cells were counted.In addition, the caspase-3 and JC-1 expression was determined by flow cytometry with Annexin V/PI double staining. The results showed that ASPS (100, 200 µg/ml) and TPO (100 ng/ml) significantly promoted CFU-GM formation in vitro. Various concentrations of ASPS and TPO also promoted the colony formation of HL-60 cells, the largest effect of ASPS was observed at a concentration of 100 µg/ml. There were no synergistic effects between TPO and ASPS on cellular proliferation. The results also showed that ASPS significantly protected HL-60 cells from apoptosis in condition of serum-free medium culture, suppressed caspase 3 activation, and reduced the cell apoptosis. It is concluded that ASPS can significantly promote the formation of bone marrow CFU-GM and the proliferation of HL-60 cells, the optimal concentration of ASPS is at 100 µg/ml. In the absence of serum inducing apoptosis, ASPS also significantly reduced the apoptosis of HL-60 cells via suppressing the activation of caspase-3.

Synergistic effect of panobinostat and bortezomib on chemoresistant acute myelogenous leukemia cells via AKT and NF-κB pathways.

In this study, we investigated the synergistic effects of panobinostat and bortezomib on adriamycin-resistant HL60/ADR cells and refractory acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) primary cells. Combination of both agents had synergistic cytotoxicity on these cells, and increased the sensitivity of HL60/ADR cells to adriamycin. Panobinostat plus bortezomib was shown to modulate multiple apoptotic and drug metabolic related molecules, including activation of caspases, down-regulation of XIAP, Bcl-2 and MRP1. These effects were likely to be mediated via inhibition of AKT and NF-κB pathways. These findings provide evidence for clinic protocols using panobinostat and borezomib to overcome drug resistance in refractory AML patients.

Imatinib and bortezomib induce the expression and distribution of anaphase-promoting complex adaptor protein Cdh1 in blast crisis of chronic myeloid leukemia.

Anaphase promoting complex cofactor Cdh1 plays a critical role in tumor suppression and genomic stability in cancer. However, its role in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) remains unclear. We treated both wild-type and imatinib-resistant K562 cells with imatinib or nilotinib and bortezomib, respectively. The siRNAs of Cdh1 and Skp2 were designed and transiently transfected with HiPerFect transfection reagent into CML cells. Expression of Cdh1-Skp2-p27 pathway proteins were detected by Western blotting. Cell cycle, cell apoptosis and cellular morphology were detected by flow cytometry and Wright staining. Our study revealed that Cdh1 was expressed at lower levels in imatinib-resistant CML blast crisis (BC) patients than imatinib-sensitive ones. Moreover, imatinib and bortezomib induced cell cycle quiescence or arrest, upregulation and nuclear relocation of Cdh1 in CML cells. Furthermore, nilotinib and bortezomib resulted in upregulation of Cdh1 in imatinib-resistant CML cells. Conversely, Cdh1 silencing resulted in stabilization of Skp2 and Cdc20, subsequently promoting G1-S transition and formation of multinucleated cells. Our study shows that TKIs and bortezomib can regulate the cell cycle and cell apoptosis via regulation of the expression and redistribution of Cdh1 in CML-BC, which sheds light on the orchestration of crosstalk between TKIs and bortezomib in imatinib-resistant CML-BC. Additionally, Cdh1 tends to play an important role in maintenance of genomic stability, the detailed mechanisms deserve further study.

Nephrotic syndrome after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: etiology and pathogenesis.

In this study we investigated the etiology and pathogenesis of nephrotic syndrome (NS) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in 257 patients with hematopoietic malignancies who survived more than 2 months post allo-HSCT. Associations of NS with the conditioning regimen, graft versus host disease (GVHD), and other variables were analyzed. Pathologic features of the kidney, regulatory T cells (Tregs), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were studied. NS was identified in 9 patients. The number of Tregs at day+30, 60, 90, and 180 was lower in NS patients than non-NS patients (P=0.001, 0.001, 0.007, 0.003). Serum levels of IFN-γ and TNF-α were higher in NS patients (P=0.032, 0.001, respectively). NS post allo-HSCT was associated with the occurrence of chronic GVHD (P=0.02). NS post-HSCT is an immune disorder that may involve immune complex deposition, Th1 cytokines, and Tregs.

Simultaneous analysis of telomere length and cell surface antigen in leukemia by multicolor Flow-FISH.

This study was purposed to explore the feasibility of simultaneous analysis of telomere length and cell surface antigen by multicolor Flow-FISH to assess minimal residual disease (MRD) in leukemia. The telomere length in 34 leukemia patients versus 20 normal controls was compared by using Flow-FISH, and the relationship between telomere length and therapeutic effect and prognosis was analyzed preliminarily. As for those patients with follow-up samples, the changes of telomere length combined with surface antigen in different courses of disease were observed by multicolor Flow-FISH. The results indicated that the telomere length of de novo patients was significantly shorter than that of controls except the patients in chronic myeloid leukemia-chronic phase (CML-CP). The shorter telomere, the lower complete remission (CR) rates were observed in acute leukemia cases and the shorter duration of CP before onset of blast phase (BP) occurred in CML cases. The acute leukemia patients showed longer telomere and fewer cells expressed the related antigen after CR. The telomere length of cases with continued CR remained at normal level during remission, and there was no increased expression of the specific antigen. However, the telomere of relapsed cases shortened again after relapse with elevated specific antigen expression. In the relapsed cases, the telomere of related antigen positive cells shortened ahead of telomere length change of the whole cells and morphologic change of bone marrow cells. It is concluded that analysis of telomere length by flow-FISH manifests the significance for monitoring disease conditions, estimating prognosis and guiding therapy in all kinds of leukemia. The simultaneous analysis of telomere length and cell surface antigen by multicolor flow-FISH may monitor abnormal clone or clonal evolution to predict recurrence more sensitively and specifically, and may provide a promising and widely applicable method for monitoring MRD in leukemia.

[CD56 and CD11b antigen expressions in patients with acute monocytic leukemia and the clinical implications].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expressions of cell surface differentiation antigen CD56 and CD11b antigen in acute monocytic leukemic (AML-M(5)) cells and their clinical significance. METHODS: A total of 113 cases of de nove adult AML-M(5) were examined genetically and immunologically using G-banding technique, interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (I-FISH) and flow cytometry immunophenotyping, and the results were analyzed in relation to their clinical data. RESULTS: Of the 113 cases, the expression rates of CD56 and CD11b was 28.32% and 73.45%, respectively. The CD56(+) patients had high CD11b expression, and the expression levels of CD11b and CD56 were positively correlated (P<0.05). The incidence of karyotypic abnormalities was 48.57% (55 cases) in these patients, including 25 (22.12%) with 11q23 aberrations. Twenty-five cases were positive for MLL gene abnormalities as found by I-FISH analysis. Compared with the patients positive for both CD56 and CD11b, those negative for both CD56 and CD11b showed increased peripheral blood white blood cell (WBC) count and also increased blast and progenitor cells in the bone marrow (P<0.05); the former patients often had karyotypic abnormalities, commonly involving 11q23 aberrations (P<0.05), whereas the latter patients presented more likely with extramedullary infiltration and refractory leukemia (P<0.01) with lowered complete remission rate and shortened median survival time (P<0.01). CD56-positive patients were more likely to have karyotypic abnormalities and refractory leukemia than CD11b-postive patients (P<0.05), but the peripheral blood WBC counts, bone marrow blast and progenitor cells, extramedullary infiltration, complete remission rate or median survival time showed no significant differences between them (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: AML-M(5) patients with CD56 positivity and high expression of CD11b often have aberrant karyotypes, commonly involving 11q23/MLL gene abnormality. These patients frequently develop extramedullary infiltration and refractory leukemia often with poor prognosis.

[Clinical characteristics and outcomes of 59 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia positive for BCR/ABL].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical characteristics and outcomes of BCR/ABL-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCR/ABL360888725-ALL) and screen the prognostic factors for BCR/ABL360888725-ALL. METHODS: From January 2001 to May 2008, 59 patients (median age of 32 years ranging from 3 to 69 years) with the diagnosis of BCR/ABL360888725-ALL by fluorescence in situ hybridization received induction chemotherapy with VDLP-/+Ara-C regimen. The patients who failed to respond to the chemotherapy received subsequent consolidation chemotherapy with imatinib (400-800 mg/day) (17 cases) or allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) (16 cases). RESULTS: Of the 59 patients, 32 (58.3%) achieved complete remission (CR) after the first induction cycle. In patients with peripheral white blood cell (WBC) count <30=10(9)/L, 30-99.9(9)/L and > or =100(9)/L, the CR rates were 75.0% (18/24), 56.3% (9/15) and 26.3% (5/19) (P=0.006), and the overall survival probability of 2 years ( OSs of 2-yrs) was 24.7%, 22.5% and 21.1%, respectively (P=0.180). According to the FAB classification, 56 cases were divided into L1, L2 and biphenotypic acute leukemia (BAL) subgroups, and their CR rates were 66.7% (6/9), 63.2% (24/38) and 22.2% (2/9) (P=0.029), with OSs of 2-yrs of 22.2%, 27.0% and 22.0%, respectively (P=0.623). In terms of immunophenotype grouping by EGIL, the patients with ALL, myeloid antigen-positive ALL and BAL had CR rates of 61.1% (11/18), 60.6% (20/33) and 12.5% (1/8) (P=0.039), and the OSs of 2-yrs of 22.7%, 21.0% and 18.8%, respectively (P=0.643). In 55 patients with known karyotype, the CR rates were 71.4%(5/7), 70.8% (17/24) and 37.5% (9/24) in normal, sole t(9;22) abnormality, t(9;22) with additional abnormalities groups (P=0.046), with the OSs of 2-yrs of 42.9%, 34.0% and 7.3%, respectively (P=0.000). The patients complicated by septicemia had significantly lower OSs of 2-yrs than those without septicemia (0% vs 38.8%, P=0.005). The OSs of 2-yrs were significantly higher in patients with consolidation chemotherapy with imatinib than those without (48.0% vs 11.2%, P=0.001), and allo-HSCT was associated with significantly higher OSs of 2-yrs than exclusive chemotherapy (54.2% and 8.5%, P=0.000). CONCLUSION: BCR/ABL360888725-ALL with WBC> or =100 x 10(9)/L, presence of BAL diagnosed by FAB or FACM, t(9;22) with additional chromosome abnormalities all adversely affect the treatment results, and additional chromosome abnormalities and septicemia are associated with lower OSs of 2-yrs. Imatinib treatment and allo-HSCT can both improve the OSs of 2-yrs of the patients with BCR/ABL(+)-ALL.

[Role of membrane-bound human leukocyte antigen G in inducing immune tolerance after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G) in the better effect of allogenetic bone marrow transplantation than that of peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. METHODS: Flow cytometry was used to detect the expression of membrane-bound HLA-G (mHLA-G) on donor peripheral blood (PBC) or bone marrow (BM) mononuclear cells. The levels of soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G) in the plasma and bone marrow fluid were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) before and after granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) mobilization. RESULTS: The mean levels of mHLA-G after G-CSF mobilization in the PBC and BM were significantly higher than that before G-CSF mobilization (P=0.001 and 0.000), but the plasma levels of sHLA-G showed no significant changes after the mobilization (P=0.279). The mean levels of sHLA-G in the BM fluid significantly increased (P=0.002) to a level higher than that in the PBC after G-CSF mobilization (P=0.004). CONCLUSION: HLA-G plays an important role in immune tolerance after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with G-CSF mobilization.

[Immunol reconstitution after autologous purified CD34+ cells transplantation in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the variation of immune index in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) treated with autologous purified CD34+ cells transplantation and to clarify the relationship with pathogenesis and prognosis. METHODS: Flow cytometry (FCM) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to test lymphocyte subsets, C3, C4, CH50, autoantibodies and immunoglobulin for 18 cases of SLE before and after transplantation. RESULTS: The results showed that the ratio of all the T cell subsets reduced obviously in early post graft and recovered gradually in 1 to 3 months after transplantation except CD45RO(+)CD4(+) cells. The levels of serum C3, C4, CH50 increased significantly after transplantation. No case relapsed within one year after transplantation, but 2 patients relapsed one year after transplantation. The levels of the indexes in the patients with relapse were significantly lower than those in the patients with persistent remission, including C(4) in the entire course, CH(50) in the 3rd and 12th month after transplantation and CD(45)RA(+)CD(8)+ cells in the 6th month after transplantation. However, the ratio of CD45RO(+)CD(4)+ cells in the first month after transplantation in the patients with relapse was higher than that in the patients with persistent remission. CONCLUSION: Autologous purified CD(34)+ cells transplantation is effective for treating SLE. Survey of immune indexes before and after transplantation is important to investigate the pathogenesis of SLE. Moreover, these immune indexes can be used to predict therapeutic efficacy of SLE.

[Effects of graft compositions on hematopoietic reconstitution and graft-versus-host disease in related donor peripheral blood stem cell transplantation].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of graft composition on hematopoietic reconstitution and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in HLA-identical related donor peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) for hematological malignancies. METHODS: The relationship between the number of graft composition and their hematopoietic reconstitution and GVHD in 107 patients with hematological malignancies undergoing HLA-identical related donor PBSCT was retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: None of the graft composition numbers had correlation with the time of neutrophil reconstitution. There was a negative correlation between the number of mononuclear cells (MNCs) or CD34+ cells and the time of platelet reconstitution (P < 0.05) with the absolute correlation coefficients below 0.4, and so did between the number of CD34+ or CD34+ CD38- cells and the development of acute GVHD (P < 0.05) and their absolute correlation coefficients. Each lymphocyte subset number had no correlation with acute GVHD. There was a positive correlation between the number of CD25+ CD4+, CD3+ or CD4+ CD3+ cells or CD4+ /CD8+ ratio and the development of chronic GVHD (P < 0.05). And the correlation coefficients all exceeded 0.4, more over, CD25+ CD4+ cells number reached up to 0.78. CD34+, CD34+ CD38- cells number had no correlation with chronic GVHD. CONCLUSION: In HLA-identical related donor PBSCT, further increasing infused MNC, CD34+, CD34+ CD38- cells can no more accelerated hematopoietic reconstitution after these cells attained their threshold values, otherwise the incidence of cGVHD might increase due to the increase of the accompanied lymphocytes.

[STI571 enhances the effect of arsenic trioxide and Velcade on bcr/abl+-CD34+ cell proliferation and apoptosis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of STI571, arsenic trioxide (As2O3) and Velcade, used alone or in combination, on the proliferation and apoptosis of bcr/abl+-CD34+ cells. METHODS: bcr/abl+-CD34+ cells isolated from the bone marrow of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) were treated for 96 h with STI571, As2O3 and Velcade either alone and in combination, and the cell proliferation and apoptosis were analyzed by CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry. The morphological changes of the apoptotic cells were observed by Hoechst33342 staining and fluorescent microscope. The inhibitory effects of the drugs on normal CD34+ cells were also observed. RESULTS: Low-concentration STI571, As2O3 or Velcade all dose-dependently inhibited bcr/abl+-CD34+ cell proliferation without obvious apoptosis-inducing effects. STI571 at 0.25-2 micromol/L combined with As2O3 at 2.5 micromol/L and with Velcade at 15 nmol/L both significantly increased the cell inhibition and apoptosis rates, showing obvious additive or synergistic effects of the drugs without further enhancement of normal CD34+ cell inhibition. CONCLUSION: Combination with STI571 enhances the effects of As2O3 and Velcade on bcr/abl+-CD34+ cells, suggesting the potential clinical value of this regimen.

[Effect of G-CSF on the proliferation and differentiation of bcr/abl(+)-CD34+ cells from CML patients].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) on the proliferation and differentiation of bcr/abl(+)-CD34+ cells. METHODS: bcr/abl(+)-CD34+ cells were isolated from bone marrow of chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML) patients and were treated with 0, 10, 100, 1000 ng/ml of G-CSF for 48, 96, 144 hs. CD34 cells from normal bone marrow were used as controls. Cell proliferation was determined by trypan blue dye exclusion, cell-cycle and antigen differentiation were determined by flow cytometry and cell morphology was observed under light microscope. RESULTS: The number of bcr/abl(+)-CD34+ cells was increased obviously in all groups. After cultured for 48 and 96 h, the number of bcr/abl(+)-CD34+ cells at G-CSF 10 ng/ml group was significantly higher than that in G-CSF 0 ng/ml group (P < 0.05) , the number of normal CD34 cells was increased only in the presence of G-CSF. After cultured for 48, 96 and 144 h, the cell number in G-CSF 100 ng/ml group was significantly higher than that in G-CSF 0 ng/ml group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.01, respectively). After cultured for 144 h, the cell percentages in G0/G1 phase for bcr/abl(+)-CD34+ cells in G-CSF 10, 100, 1000 ng/ml groups were significantly less than that in G-CSF 0 ng/ml group (P < 0. 05), and that for normal CD34 cells in G-CSF 10, 100, 1000 ng/ml groups were significantly less than that of G-CSF 0 ng/ml group after cultured for 48 and 96 h. The expressions of CD34 on bcr/abl(+)-CD34+ cells and normal CD34+ cells were decreased along with the culture duration, accompanied by the expression of CD33 and CD13 increased first and decreased later, which was not correlated with the concentration of G-CSF. Both bcr/abl(+)-CD34+ cells and normal CD34+ cells showed mature morphology along with proliferation and differentiation. CONCLUSIONS: G-CSF promotes proliferation of both bcr/abl(+)-CD34+ cells and normal CD34+ cells, but not necessary for the former, and the former differentiates more rapidly than the latter does, but both was independent of G-CSF.

[Recombinant adeno-associated virus 2-mediated green fluorescent protein expression in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells derived from acute myelogenous leukemia patients].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the possibility of using autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) as a vehicle to deliver recombinant adeno-associated virus 2-mediated enhanced green fluorescent protein (rAAV-2-eGFP) in vitro, therefore to find an alternative solution for gene therapy of hematological malignancy. METHODS: BMSCs isolated from the bone marrow of patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) at the onset of disease were infected by rAAV-2-eGFP at different multiplicity of infection (MOI=10(2), 10(3), 10(4), 10(5), 10(6), and 10(7), respectively). Phase-contrast fluorescent microscope and flow cytometry were employed to evaluate the expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP). RESULTS: Ten to fourteen days after the transfection, eGFP expression began to be detected and the transfection efficiency ranged between 0.3% to 2%, which failed to be increased with the increase of MOI. The transduced eGFP could maintain a long-term stable expression in vitro in the 61 days of observation, and from 12 to 33 days after transfection, eGFP percentage underwent a decrease from the initial 1.16% to 0.5%-0.6% and maintained this expression level till 61 days after transfection. CONCLUSION: rAAV can be used with BMSCs for in vitro gene therapy, but the poor transfection efficiency of these cells remains a significant obstacle for its further application.

[Changes of peripheral blood CD45RA+ cells after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: evaluation with four-color flow cytometry].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the alteration of peripheral blood naive T cells in adult patients after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). METHODS: Peripheral blood samples were collected from 49 patients requiring stem cell transplantation before and 15, 30, 90, and 180 d after transplantation, respectively. Dynamic changes of CD4(+)CD45RA(+)/CD8(+)CD45RA(+) cell counting were measured using flow cytometry. RESULTS: Flow cytometry results of 90 samples showed that CD8(+)CD45RA(+) cells recovered to normal level 30 d after transplantation, whereas CD4(+)CD45RA(+) cells remained low and kept a slow pace of gradual increase over the 6 months following the transplantation. More rapid recovery of the transport and regeneration function of the thymus cells was achieved in patients receiving hematopoietic stem cell autotransplant than in those with allotransplant. CONCLUSION: Measurement of the changes of CD4(+)CD45RA(+)/CD8(+)CD45RA(+) cell ratio using flow cytometry may provide insights into the molecular picture of the thymus regeneration function in association with immune reconstruction process in patients after stem cell transplantation. The number of newly generated T cells transported from the thymus can be a putative marker of immune reconstruction after transplantation.

[Immunophenotyping of 106 adult patients with acute leukemia by flow cytometry].

OBJECTIVE: To study the immunophenotyping of adult patients with acute leukemia and its association with the prognosis. METHODS: Immunophenotyping was performed in 106 adult patients with acute leukemia by three-color flow cytometry analysis using CD34/SSC gating. RESULTS: The antigens expressed in 71 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) were mainly CD13, CD33, HLA-DR, CD34 and CD117. Lymphoid antigen expression was identified in 23.9% adult AML patients and CD56 antigen expression in 15.5% of the AML patients. In 29 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the expressed antigens were mainly HLA-DR, CD10, CD19, CD34 and CD7, and 34.5% of these patients were found to be positive for myeloid antigen expression. Complete remission (CR) rate in AML patients with lymphoid antigen expression after chemotherapy was lower than that in AML patients without lymphoid antigen expression (52.9% vs 77.8%, P<0.05), and no significant impact was noted of myeloid antigen expression in ALL on the CR of the patients (70.0% vs 94.7%, P>0.05). The CR rate in AML with CD56 antigen expression was lower than that in AML without CD56 expression (36.4% vs 78.3%, P<0.025), and the CR rate in CD34+ AML was lower than that in CD34- AML (56.0% vs 80.4%, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Gating of CD45/SSC can eliminate the interference of normal cells to render more reliable immunophenotyping results. The expressions of CD56+, CD34+, lymphoid antigen in adult AML patients, who have lower CR rate, often signify poor prognosis.

[Effect of autocrine vascular endothelial growth factor on the biological activity of acute myeloid leukemia cell line HL-60].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of autocrine vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on the abnormal proliferation of HL-60 cells. METHODS: HL-60 cells were transfected via lipofictamine with the VEGF(165) cDNA sense vector (HL-60/ VEGF(165)) and with the PcDNA3.1(-)-vector (HL-60/neo) as the control. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used for detecting VEGF mRNA in the transfected cells. VEGF concentrations in the cell culture supernatant were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay and colony-forming assay in vitro. Flow cytometric Annexin-V-FITC/ PI dual-labeling technique was employed to observe the effect of VEGF(165) cDNA transfection on the apoptosis of HL-60 cells. RESULTS: The levels of VEGF mRNA expression by HL-60/VEGF(165) cells were higher than HL-60/neo, with the mean VEGF quantity in the supernatant of HL-60/VEGF(165) cell culture being 399.07+/-12.45 ng/L, which was 2-fold higher than that in the supernatant of HL-60/neo cells (184.45+/-10.53 ng/L) (P<0.01). The growth rate of HL-60/VEGF(165) cells was significantly accelerated as compared with that of the control cells, and the colony formation capacity of the former cells also increased significantly (P<0.05), with the average colony number of 157.00+/-17.00/500 cells vs 110.00+/-12.90/500 cells of HL-60/neo cells. Less apoptotic cells were identified among HL-60/VEGF(165) cells than in HL-60/neo cells in the same culture condition. CONCLUSION: Autocrine VEGF plays an important role in the proliferation and apoptosis of acute myeloid leukemia cells.

[Detection of platelet activation by flow cytometry in patients with pre-eclampsia].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical significance of expression alterations of static and activated platelet glycoprotein CD41a, CD62p, and CD63 in patients with pre-eclampsia. METHODS: We used non-washing immunolabeling technique for fluorescence labeling of the static and activated platelet with CD41a, CD62p, and CD63 monoclonal antibodies of the blood samples from 16 patients with pre-eclampsia, 15 women with normal pregnancies and 20 healthy subjects. The expression of the monoclonal antibody was detected by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The average static and activated platelet glycoprotein CD41a, CD62p, and CD63 expression levels in patients with pre-eclampsia were apparently higher than those of the normal pregnant women (P<0.01), while the comparison between the latter and the control group did not reveal any significant differences (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: High levels of platelet glycoprotein CD62p and CD63 expressions are present in patients with preeclampsia, suggesting the presence of platelet activation in these patients.

[Analysis of alkaline phosphatase staining results in 238 cases of malignant lymphoma].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the significance of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining in clinical characterization of malignant lymphoma cases. METHODS: Fresh peripheral blood smear obtained from 238 cases of malignant lymphoma, including 23 cases with bone marrow involvement (BMI) 189 cases without BMI(NBMI), and 26 cases of lymphoma cell leukemia (LCL), were examined by ALP staining, and the results were compared with those of 40 normal control subjects. RESULTS: With the gradual progression of lymphoma, the patients tended to have higher ALP scores, and the percentages of the subjects with a score higher than 250 in the control, NBMI, BMI and LCL were 0, 4.8%, 39.1%, 53.9% respectively, showing significant differences between the four groups. CONCLUSIONS: Increased ALP activity can be indirectly indicative of lymphoma progression, and ALP staining results may provide insight into the clinical staging and prognosis of malignant lymphoma.