Comparative outcomes of T-cell-depleted and non-T-cell-depleted allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for chronic myelogenous leukemia: impact of donor lymphocyte infusion. (1/691)

PURPOSE: Donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) can restore complete remission in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) who have relapsed after T-cell-depleted (TCD) allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). The existence of salvage treatment for patients with DLI after TCD allogeneic BMT prompted an evaluation of overall outcome after CD6+ -TCD allogeneic BMT for patients treated during the time when DLI has been available. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of outcomes of 46 patients who underwent TCD allogeneic BMT for stable-phase CML and compared these outcomes with those of 40 patients who underwent non-TCD allogeneic BMT. All subjects were patients at one of two neighboring institutions during a period when DLI was available. All patients received marrow from HLA-identical sibling donors, underwent similar myeloablative regimens, and had similar pretreatment characteristics. RESULTS: After BMT, the TCD group had a lower incidence of grade 2 to 4 acute (15% v 37%, P = .026) and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) (18% v 42%, P = .024) than did the non-TCD group. The 1-year treatment-related mortality rates for the TCD group and the non-TCD group were 13% and 29%, respectively (P = .07). The estimated 3-year probability of relapse (cytogenetic or hematologic) was higher for patients in the TCD group than for patients in the non-TCD group (62% v 24%, P = .0003). Twenty-three patients (20 in the TCD group and three in the non-TCD group) received and were assessable for response to DLI. After DLI, 17 of 20 patients in the TCD group and two of three patients in the non-TCD group achieved complete remission. Donor lymphocyte infusion induced GVHD in nine of 23 patients. Thirty (65%) of 46 patients in the TCD group and 27 (69%) of 39 assessable patients in the non-TCD group remained alive without evidence of disease. The estimated 3-year overall survival rates were similar for the TCD group and the non-TCD group (72% v 68%, respectively; P = .38). At last follow-up, there was no difference in the overall prevalence of GVHD or the proportion of patients requiring immunosuppressive agents between groups. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the combination of T-cell depletion and post-BMT DLI is a viable treatment option for patients undergoing allogeneic BMT for CML and should be prospectively compared with traditional forms of GVHD prophylaxis.  (+info)

Evidence of alternative or concomitant use of perforin- and Fas-dependent pathways in a T cell-mediated negative regulation of Ig production. (2/691)

To study the possible involvement of perforin (Pfp)- and/or Fas-dependent cytotoxicity pathways in a T cell-mediated negative regulation of Ig production, we used the T cell-induced Ig-allotype suppression model. T splenocytes from Igha/a mice, when neonatally transferred into histocompatible Igha/b F1 or Ighb/b congenic hosts, are intrinsically able to totally, specifically, and chronically suppress the production of IgG2a of the Ighb haplotype (IgG2ab). It has not been established whether the suppression effectors, which are anti-IgG2ab MHC class I-restricted CD8+ T cells, cytolyse IgG2ab+ B targets or whether they only silence Ig production. In this study, using T cells from Igha/a Pfp+/+ or Pfpo/o mice, the latter obtained by crossbreeding, and B cells from Ighb/b Fas+/+ or Faslpr/lpr (lymphoproliferation) mice in appropriate adoptive transfer models, we demonstrated that: 1) under blockage of the Pfp-mediated pathway, Igha/a T cells were still able to induce suppression against wild-type IgG2ab+ B cells, 2) IgG2ab+ B cells with impaired Fas expression were also subjected to suppression by WT Igha/a T splenocytes, and 3) the suppression establishment was totally inhibited when both Pfp- and Fas-dependent mechanisms were simultaneously blocked, i.e., when Igha/a Pfpo/o T cells were used to induce suppression against Ighb/b Faslpr/lpr B cells. These results provide the first demonstration of the existence of alternative or simultaneous use of the major cytotoxic mechanisms in a T cell-mediated down-regulation of an Ig production.  (+info)

DNA vaccination against the idiotype of a murine B cell lymphoma: mechanism of tumor protection. (3/691)

Several studies have shown that immunization with DNA, which encodes the idiotypic determinants of a B cell lymphoma, generates tumor-specific immunity. Although induction of antiidiotypic Abs has correlated with tumor protection, the effector mechanisms that contribute to tumor protection have not been clearly identified. This study evaluated the tumor protective effects of humoral and cellular immune mechanisms recruited by idiotype-directed DNA vaccines in the 38C13 murine B cell lymphoma model. Antiidiotypic Abs induced by DNA vaccination supported in vitro complement-mediated cytotoxicity of tumor cells, and simultaneous transfer of tumor cells and hyperimmune sera protected naive animals against tumor growth. However, in vitro stimulation of immune splenocytes with tumor cells failed to induce idiotype-specific cytotoxicity, and following vaccination, depletion of CD4 or CD8 T cell subsets did not compromise protection. Furthermore, protection of naive recipients against tumor challenge could not be demonstrated either by a Winn assay approach or by adoptive transfer of spleen and lymph node cells. Thus, in this experimental model, current evidence suggests that the tumor-protective effects of DNA vaccination can be largely attributed to idiotype-specific humoral immunity.  (+info)

Development of an animal model of autoimmune thyroid eye disease. (4/691)

In previous studies we have transferred thyroiditis to naive BALB/c and NOD mice with human thyrotropin (TSH) receptor (TSHR)-primed splenocytes. Because the TSHR has been implicated in the pathogenesis of thyroid eye disease (TED) we have examined the orbits of recipients of TSHR-primed T cells, generated using a TSHR fusion protein or by genetic immunization. In the NOD mice, 25 of 26 animals treated with TSHR-primed T cells developed thyroiditis with considerable follicular destruction, numerous activated and CD8+ T cells, and immunoreactivity for IFN-gamma. Thyroxine levels were reduced. Thyroiditis was not induced in controls. None of the NOD animals developed any orbital pathology. Thirty-five BALB/c mice received TSHR-primed spleen cells. Thyroiditis was induced in 60-100% and comprised activated T cells, B cells, and immunoreactivity for IL-4 and IL-10. Autoantibodies to the receptor were induced, including TSH binding inhibiting Igs. A total of 17 of 25 BALB/c orbits displayed changes consisting of accumulation of adipose tissue, edema caused by periodic acid Schiff-positive material, dissociation of the muscle fibers, the presence of TSHR immunoreactivity, and infiltration by lymphocytes and mast cells. No orbital changes or thyroiditis were observed in control BALB/c mice. We have induced orbital pathology having many parallels with human TED, only in BALB/c mice, suggesting that a Th2 autoimmune response to the TSHR may be a prerequisite for the development of TED.  (+info)

Adoptively transferable tolerance induced by CD45RB monoclonal antibody. (5/691)

The phenomenon of rejection remains the most serious problem in transplantation. The ultimate goal in transplant immunology is to develop therapeutic strategies that lead to tolerance. It has been shown that two injections of a monoclonal antibody to CD45RB leads to indefinite acceptance of renal allografts in mice. Moreover, the CD45RB monoclonal antibody reverses acute rejection and still induces tolerance. The purpose of this study was to assess mechanisms that could underlie this therapeutic benefit. It was shown that splenic lymphocytes from tolerant animals augmented proliferation in allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reactions against donor alloantigens, and the serum of tolerant mice contained donor-specific antibodies, mainly of the IgG1 isotype, suggesting the presence of TH2 cytokines. Tolerance could not be broken by interleukin-2 infusion, but tolerance could be adoptively transferred by transfusion of tolerant mouse CD4+ splenic lymphocytes into naive allografted animals. These data suggest that an active immunoregulatory mechanism is partly responsible for the therapeutic effect. CD45RB-directed therapy may find clinical application in organ transplantation in human patients.  (+info)

Prevention of transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease by photochemical treatment. (6/691)

Photochemical treatment (PCT) with the psoralen S-59 and long wavelength ultraviolet light (UVA) inactivates high titers of contaminating viruses, bacteria, and leukocytes in human platelet concentrates. The present study evaluated the efficacy of PCT to prevent transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease (TA-GVHD) in vivo using a well-characterized parent to F1 murine transfusion model. Recipient mice in four treatment groups were transfused with 10(8) splenic leukocytes. (1) Control group mice received syngeneic splenic leukocyte transfusions; (2) GVHD group mice received untreated allogeneic splenic leukocytes; (3) gamma radiation group mice received gamma irradiated (2,500 cGy) allogeneic splenic leukocytes; and (4) PCT group mice received allogeneic splenic leukocytes treated with 150 micromol/L S-59 and 2.1 J/cm2 UVA. Multiple biological and clinical parameters were used to monitor the development of TA-GVHD in recipient mice over a 10-week posttransfusion observation period: peripheral blood cell levels, spleen size, engraftment by donor T cells, thymic cellularity, clinical signs of TA-GVHD (weight loss, activity, posture, fur texture, skin integrity), and histologic lesions of liver, spleen, bone marrow, and skin. Mice in the control group remained healthy and free of detectable disease. Mice in the GVHD group developed clinical and histological lesions of TA-GVHD, including pancytopenia, marked splenomegaly, wasting, engraftment with donor derived T cells, and thymic hypoplasia. In contrast, mice transfused with splenic leukocytes treated with (2,500 cGy) gamma radiation or 150 micromol/L S-59 and 2.1 J/cm2 UVA remained healthy and did not develop detectable TA-GVHD. Using an in vitro T-cell proliferation assay, greater than 10(5.1) murine T cells were inactivated by PCT. Therefore, in addition to inactivating high levels of pathogenic viruses and bacteria in PC, these data indicate that PCT is an effective alternative to gamma irradiation for prevention of TA-GVHD.  (+info)

Successful treatment of secondary acute myeloid leukemia relapsing after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation with donor lymphocyte infusion failed to prevent recurrence of primary disease: a case report. (7/691)

We report a case of therapy-related secondary acute myeloid leukemia occurring in a patient during treatment for anaplastic large cell lymphoma. In spite of response to induction chemotherapy and prompt bone marrow transplantation from his matched sister, the patient experienced an early leukemia relapse within 3 months of the transplant. Treatment with oral etoposide for 3 weeks followed by donor lymphocyte infusion achieved a 7-month remission from leukemia without any further treatment. Unfortunately, the patient suffered a recurrence of the primary anaplastic large cell lymphoma that was treated by resuming chemotherapy and local radiotherapy. The patient died 20 months after DLI, still in CR for his leukemia, due to ALCL progression.  (+info)

T cell reconstitution of BB/W rats after the initiation of insulitis precipitates the onset of diabetes. (8/691)

One of the diabetes susceptibility genes of the BB/W (Biobreeding/Worcester) rat maps to the lyp locus on chromosome 4. The BB/W lyp allele is responsible for a severe peripheral T lymphopenia. Correction of this lymphopenia by transfer of normal, histocompatible T cells prevents diabetes, providing T cell reconstitution is initiated before insulitis. We have analyzed this time-dependent regulation of the diabetogenic process by normal T cells. We demonstrate that T cell reconstitution after the initiation of insulitis precipitates the onset of diabetes through the recruitment of donor T cells to the autoimmune process. This inability of normal T cells to regulate primed diabetogenic BB/W T cells and their own autoreactive potential were observed when normal T cells outnumbered pathogenic T cells by approximately 1000-fold. Analysis of donor-derived T cells recovered from BB/W rats that were reconstituted before insulitis, and hence protected from diabetes, demonstrates that early T cell reconstitution of BB/W rats does not result in a long term physical or functional depletion of islet cell-specific T cell precursors among donor cells or in the expansion of T cells that can regulate the activation and expansion of diabetogenic T cells.  (+info)