B-cell Chronic Lymphatic Leukemia Research Articles

Tumor Therapy with Amanita phalloides: Benefits and Limitation

Background: Classical tumor treatments can fail: surgeries, radiation and chemotherapy not always elongate the life span. Less destructive treatments are possible nowadays. To find and analyse the efficiency of alternate treatments, long term case reports are essential.
 Aim: To determine long term analyses of Amanita treatment in patients with different tumor types.
 Methods: Patients are treated with Amanita alone, as long as the tumor growth of cells can be retarded. Other anti tumor therapies are applied in addition, when the retardation of the tumor growth is not sufficiently manageable with Amanita alone. The treatments with Amanita are supported by application of Terebinthina laricina in intervals to eliminate Borrelia.
 Results: The state of a patient with a thyroid-carcinoma and a rectum-carcinoma can be stabilized for ten years with Amanita alone, until her age of 90 years. The patient cannot further tolerate uptake of Amanita. Thyroid cells start to grow, rectum-carcinoma cells grow slower. The disease state of a patient with prostate-carcinoma can be stabilized with Amanita alone for six years. Other therapies are applied from then on in intervals in addition for further six years. No chemotherapy or radiation is applied. The patient died at the age of 84 with metastases. A patient with B-cell chronic lymphatic leukemia is treated with Amanita as sole antitumor therapy for eleven years. After that period, no further antitumor treatment is necessary, the patient lives now with high but stable leukocyte count for two years after the end of the Amanita therapy.
 Conclusions: Amanita can inhibit tumor growth of different tumor types for a long period of time, elongation of the life span is possible. A synergistic effect of anti-Borrelia treatment is observed. Occasionally the tumor growth of cells stops without further anti tumor therapy, and no correlation with the origin can be identified.

First-line therapy of indolent non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in routine clinical practice

The aim is to evaluate the efficacy of the first-line rituximab-containing therapy of B-cell lymphoproliferative diseases in Russian clinical practice between 2014 and 2017.
 Materials and methods. In the post-authorisation multicenter study EQUILIBRIUM were included 1 thousand patients aged from 21 to 91 with B-cell non-Hodgkins lymphoma or chronic lymphatic leukemia who had received at least 4 cycles of rituximab-containing therapy using the drug Acellbia. This article was devoted to the group of indolent non-Hodgkins lymphomas and included 253 patients: follicular lymphoma 51% of cases, marginal zone lymphoma 44% of patients, extremely rare were registered lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma and Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia in 3% and in 2% of cases, respectively. The median age in patients with indolent non-Hodgkins lymphomas was 62 years (2191 years). The vast majority of patients were diagnosed with stage IIIIV 190 (75%) of patients. More than 1/2 (53.4%) of patients in routine practice received R-CHOP therapy as a first-line. BR regimen was applied in 15.4% of cases, 14.2% of patients were treated with R-CVP/R-COP. We indicated rare use of rituximab as monotherapy in induction mode only 4.4% of patients. And 2.4% of patients were treated with fludarabine-containing therapy.
 Results. The final assessment of the effect was carried out after 68 cycles of treatment and as a result the overall effect was more than 90%: the frequency of complete remission was 61%, partial responses 32.9%. The progression admitted only in 17 (6.7%) patients among 253 observed. With a median of 15 months, the median of overall survival and event-free survival was not achieved.
 Conclusion. The use of the available and appropriate treatment according to the domestic clinical guidelines with the inclusion of the Russian biosimilar anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody Acellbia, demonstrates high direct efficacy and satisfactory long-term treatment results comparable to the retrospective analysis of the previous clinical studies of the original drug rituximab.

BCL3 regulates RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis by interacting with TRAF6 in bone marrow-derived macrophages.

Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) is an essential component of the signaling complex that mediates osteoclastogenesis. As an adaptor protein of E3 ligase function, TRAF6 regulates NF-κB signaling via TAK1 and I-κB kinase (IKK) activation. Here, we investigated novel mechanisms by which TRAF6 signaling is regulated under receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis. A yeast two-hybrid screen system identified cellular factors that interact with TRAF6. The interactions were confirmed by glutathione S-transferase pull-down and co-immunoprecipitation assays, followed by immuno-blotting. The role of TRAF6 in bone growth and remodeling was determined by osteoclast differentiation and bone-resorption pit assays. Regulatory mechanisms were examined by co-immunoprecipitation, immuno-blotting, real-time polymerase chain reaction, and luciferase reporter assays. We show that B-cell chronic lymphatic leukemia protein 3 (BCL3) interacts with TRAF6 through its ankyrin-repeat domain and inhibits osteoclastogenesis in bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDMs). Further, TRAF6 interacts with CYLD to mediate BCL3 deubiquitination, which facilitates the cytoplasmic accumulation of BCL3 and represses BCL3 and p50 complex-mediated cyclin D1 transcription. TRAF6 promotes RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis by regulating novel non-canonical NF-κB signaling via BCL3 deubiquitination, indicating that BCL3 provides valuable insights into bone loss-associated diseases.

The patterns of alteration of content of growth-stimulating and growth-inhibiting factors in blood serum under β-cell chronic lymphatic leukemia and their diagnostic value.

The article evaluates balance of growth-stimulating and growth-inhibiting factors in blood serum of patients with different stages of B-cell chronic lymphatic leukemia residing on examination and hospital treatment in Saratov clinic of occupational pathology and hematology in 2007-2016. The indices of content of VEGF165, PDGF-AB, pRb, p53 and p73 in blood serum was detected using solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The specific characteristic of B-cell chronic lymphatic leukemia became stably higher content of growth-stimulating cytokines of development of disease that permitted to conclude about (VEGF165, PDGF-AB) in dynamics of development of disease that permitted to conclude about their important role in mechanisms of oncogene transformation and stimulation of proliferation activity of neoplastic cells at various stages of pathology. At the same time, disturbance of anti-proliferation signals under B-cell chronic lymphatic leukemia was characterized by singleat-once decreasing of controlling cell cycle of several mechanisms of regulation of changing G1-phase to S-phase conditioned by low level of inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases (p53 and p73) and inadequate expression of regulator of cellular cycle of protein pRb.

Atomic force microscopy of chronic lymphatic leukaemia cells activation induced by Staphylococcus aureus

Activation of lymphatic cells is associated with changes in morphology, ultrastructure and adhesion force. We have investigated the activation efficiency of Staphylococcus aureus (SAC) on B-cell chronic lymphatic leukaemia (B-CLL) cells using atomic force microscopy (AFM), and found changes in the above properties. Cell viability and proliferation were measured using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). AFM clearly showed that the volume and nuclear-cytoplasm ratio of cells increased significantly with activated time. It also showed that pseudopodia and immunological synapses began to appear at 24 h. In the activation process, nano-structures of the cell surface became aggregated, and adhesion increased. In conclusion, the results indicate a close relationship between membrane reconstruction and multiplication process of B-CLL cells.

Wolf's Isotopic Response: A Series of 9 Cases

IntroductionThe term Wolf′s isotopic response refers to the appearance of a new skin disease at the site of an already healed, unrelated disease. In most cases, the initial disease is herpes zoster. Different diseases may subsequently develop on the same site. The most common isotopic responses are granulomatous and lichenoid reactions, infiltrations of hematologic diseases, skin tumors, and infections. The pathogenesis of these skin reactions is unknown. It has been suggested that viral infection may alter local skin immunity; this would favor hyperreactivity, leading to inflammatory processes, or local immunosuppression, leading to tumor infiltrations or infections. Materials and methodsWe performed a retrospective study of 9 patients diagnosed with Wolf's isotopic response in the dermatology department of Hospital Donostia in San Sebastian, Spain. Five patients had B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia, 2 had a non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and 1 had ovarian carcinoma. ResultsThe initial disease was herpes zoster in 7 cases, and chickenpox and herpes simplex in the other 2 cases. The second disease was granulomatous dermatitis in 4 cases, lichenoid dermatitis in 2 cases, infiltration by B-cell chronic lymphatic leukemia in 2 cases, and infiltration by systemic non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 1 case. In the last case, the skin lesions were the first sign of the lymphoma. ConclusionsWe highlight the need to biopsy these second lesions in order to rule out tumor infiltrations, which were more frequent than expected in our series.

Fenómeno isotópico de Wolf: serie de 9 casos

IntroductionThe term Wolf′s isotopic response refers to the appearance of a new skin disease at the site of an already healed, unrelated disease. In most cases, the initial disease is herpes zoster. Different diseases may subsequently develop on the same site. The most common isotopic responses are granulomatous and lichenoid reactions, infiltrations of hematologic diseases, skin tumors, and infections. The pathogenesis of these skin reactions is unknown. It has been suggested that viral infection may alter local skin immunity; this would favor hyperreactivity, leading to inflammatory processes, or local immunosuppression, leading to tumor infiltrations or infections. Materials and methodsWe performed a retrospective study of 9 patients diagnosed with Wolf's isotopic response in the dermatology department of Hospital Donostia in San Sebastian, Spain. Five patients had B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia, 2 had a non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and 1 had ovarian carcinoma. ResultsThe initial disease was herpes zoster in 7 cases, and chickenpox and herpes simplex in the other 2 cases. The second disease was granulomatous dermatitis in 4 cases, lichenoid dermatitis in 2 cases, infiltration by B-cell chronic lymphatic leukemia in 2 cases, and infiltration by systemic non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 1 case. In the last case, the skin lesions were the first sign of the lymphoma. ConclusionsWe highlight the need to biopsy these second lesions in order to rule out tumor infiltrations, which were more frequent than expected in our series

Metabolic factors and blood cancers among 578,000 adults in the metabolic syndrome and cancer project (Me-Can)

We investigated associations between metabolic factors and blood cancer subtypes. Data on body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, blood glucose, total cholesterol, and triglycerides from seven prospective cohorts were pooled (n = 578,700; mean age = 44 years). Relative risks of blood cancers were calculated from Cox regression models. During mean follow-up of 12 years, 2,751 incident and 1,070 fatal cases of blood cancers occurred. Overall, higher BMI was associated with an increased blood cancer risk. In gender-specific subgroup analyses, BMI was positively associated with blood cancer risk (p = 0.002), lymphoid neoplasms (p = 0.01), and Hodgkin's lymphoma (p = 0.02) in women. Further associations with BMI were found for high-grade B-cell lymphoma (p = 0.02) and chronic lymphatic leukemia in men (p = 0.05) and women (p = 0.01). Higher cholesterol levels were inversely associated with myeloid neoplasms in women (p = 0.01), particularly acute myeloid leukemia (p = 0.003), and glucose was positively associated with chronic myeloid leukemia in women (p = 0.03). In men, glucose was positively associated with risk of high-grade B-cell lymphoma and multiple myeloma, while cholesterol was inversely associated with low-grade B-cell lymphoma. The metabolic syndrome score was related to 48 % increased risk of Hodgkin's lymphoma among women. BMI showed up as the most consistent risk factor, particularly in women. A clear pattern was not found for other metabolic factors.

Level of education and the risk of lymphoma in the European prospective investigation into cancer and nutrition

Lymphomas belong to the few cancer sites with increasing incidence over past decades, and only a few risk factors have been established. We explored the association between education and the incidence of lymphoma in the prospective EPIC study. Within 3,567,410 person-years of follow-up, 1,319 lymphoma cases [1,253 non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) and 66 Hodgkin lymphomas (HL)] were identified. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to examine the association between highest educational level (primary school or less, technical/professional school, secondary school, university) and lymphoma risk. Overall, no consistent associations between educational level and lymphoma risk were observed; however, associations were found for sub-groups of the cohort. We observed a higher risk of B-NHL (HR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.02–1.68; n = 583) in women with the highest education level (university) but not in men. Concerning sub-classes of B-NHL, a positive association between education and risk of B cell chronic lymphatic leukaemia (BCLL) was observed only in women. In both genders, the risk of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) was significantly lower for subjects with university degree (HR = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.27–0.79) versus lowest educational level. No association was found for HL. We could not confirm an overall consistent association of education and risk of HL or NHL in this large prospective study; although, education was positively related to the incidence of BCLL and B-NHL (in women) but inversely to incidence of DLBCL. Due to limited number of cases in sub-classes and the large number of comparisons, the possibility of chance findings can not be excluded.

Activated autologous T cells exert an anti-B-cell chronic lymphatic leukemia effect in vitro and in vivo

The impact of chronic lymphatic leukemia (CLL) tumor burden on the autologous immune system has already been demonstrated. This study attempted to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying T-cell immunologic deficiencies in CLL. Freshly isolated CD3(+) T cells from patients with a diagnosis of CLL and healthy donors were analyzed by gene expression profiling. Activated T cells from 20 patients with CLL were tested in vitro for cytotoxicity against mutated and unmutated autologous B cells and DAUDI, K562 and P815 cell lines. To investigate T-cell mediated cytotoxicity in vivo, we co-transplanted OKT3-activated T lymphocytes and autologous B-cell CLL (B-CLL) cells into NOD/SCID mice. Gene expression profiles of peripheral blood T cells from B-CLL patients showed 25 down-regulated, and 31 up-regulated, genes that were mainly involved in cell differentiation, proliferation, survival, apoptosis, cytoskeleton formation, vesicle trafficking and T-cell activation. After culture, the T-cell count remained unchanged, CD8 cells expanded more than CD4 and a cytotoxicity index >30% was present in 5/20 patients. Cytotoxicity against B autologous leukemic cells did not correlate with B-cell mutational status. Only activated T cells exerting cytotoxicity against autologous leukemic B cells prevented CLL in a human-mouse chimera. This study indicates that patients with CLL are affected by a partial immunologic defect that might be somewhat susceptible to repair. This study identifies the molecular pathways underlying T-cell deficiencies in CLL and shows that cytotoxic T-cell functions against autologous B-CLL can be rebuilt at least in part in vitro and in vivo.

Richter’s syndrome developing in a patient with adult onset Still’s disease

Dear Editor, Autoimmune disorders can be a risk factor for the development of lymphoma [1], and at the same time, malignant lymphoma can present with paraneoplastic syndromes consisting of autoimmune phenomena and even full-blown rheumatoid disorders [2]. When a patient presents with predominant clinical symptoms of autoimmune disease awareness is necessary in order not to miss an underlying lymphoma. In this paper, we present a case that illustrates the difficulties encountered diagnosing malignant lymphoma when autoimmune phenomena dominate the clinical presentation. A 53-year old woman was referred to our hospital for a second opinion. Seven months earlier, she had been admitted elsewhere because of intermittent fevers, rigors, night sweats, anorexia, weight loss, myalgia, arthralgia, and a maculopapular rash. Before this, there was no relevant medical history. On physical examination, no pathological lymph nodes, splenomegaly, or hepatomegaly was present. Laboratory investigation revealed a leukocytosis (34.7× 10/l) with 90% neutrophils, elevated C-reactive protein (222 mg/l), liver test abnormalities [alkaline phosphatase (168 U/l), aspartate transaminase (76 U/l), alanine transaminase (49 U/l)], elevated lactate dehydrogenase (910 U/l), and hyperferritinemia (9,409 μmol/l). Additional laboratory tests and serology did not show signs of rheumatoid diseases, sarcoidosis, viral, or bacterial infections (e.g., Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus, parvovirus, human immunodefficiency virus, mycoplasma, and borrelia). Computer tomography (CT) revealed two small lymph nodes in the left axilla, but a biopsy failed to acquire representative material. Eventually, the diagnosis of adult onset Still’s disease (AOSD) was made because she met almost all criteria for this disease and no signs of a lymphoproliferative disease were found (Table 1) [3]. Treatment was started with prednisone (30 mg once daily), resulting in rapid clinical recovery. August 2006, the patient was referred because lymphocytosis (absolute lymphocyte count, 5.7×10/l) was noticed repeatedly during follow up, not accompanied by physical complaints or signs or cytopenias. After the prednisone was tapered and finally stopped, with immunophenotyping of peripheral blood (CD5, CD19, CD20, CD23, and Ig lambda positive), the diagnosis of a B-cell chronic lymphatic leukemia (B-CLL) could be established, with RAI stage 0, not necessitating therapy. A relation with the prior diagnosis of AOSD was not considered. In November 2006, she was readmitted because she experienced a recurrence of the same complaints earlier resulting in the diagnosis of AOSD. Again, leukocytosis (26.8×10/l) with predominantly neutrophils (90%) and 8% lymphocytes was seen. A skin biopsy revealed aspecific dermatitis compatible with AOSD. Because of high fever causing headaches, treatment with naproxen and paracetamol was initiated without benefit. Bone marrow biopsy confirmed the earlier diagnosed B-CLL showing small foci of lymphocytic B cells with expression of CD5 and CD23 (Fig. 1a,b). CT now revealed generalized lymphadenopathy Ann Hematol (2009) 88:81–84 DOI 10.1007/s00277-008-0526-4

BCL3 Acts as a Negative Regulator of Transcription from the Human T-cell Leukemia Virus Type 1 Long Terminal Repeat through Interactions with TORC3

By associating with cyclic AMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB), the human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) Tax protein activates transcription from the HTLV-1 long terminal repeat (LTR), which contains multiple cyclic AMP-responsive elements. The transducers of regulated CREB activity (TORCs) were a recently identified family of CREB co-activators that bind to CREB to enhance CRE-mediated transcription. TORC3, a TORC family protein, dramatically enhances Tax-mediated transcription from the LTR. In this study, we performed a yeast two-hybrid screen using the N-terminal region of TORC3 as bait and identified B-cell chronic lymphatic leukemia protein 3 (BCL3) as a protein interacting with TORC3. This interaction was confirmed by glutathione S-transferase pulldown assays and co-immunoprecipitation experiments with detection by Western blotting. The ankyrin repeat domain of BCL3 interacted with TORC3. By using a luciferase assay, we determined that BCL3 inhibited transcription from the HTLV-1 LTR in a manner dependent on TORC3. Knockdown of endogenous BCL3 using RNA interference enhanced transcriptional activation of CRE. Treatment with trichostatin A, a potent inhibitor of the transcriptional co-repressor HDAC, partially reversed the inhibitory effect of BCL3. These results suggest that BCL3 functions as a repressor of HTLV-1 LTR-mediated transcription through interactions with TORC3. In addition to stimulating transcription from the HTLV-1 LTR, Tax also enhances BCL3 expression; thus, transcription from the LTR is regulated by both positive and negative feedback mechanisms.

Chlorambucil Plus Theophylline vs Chlorambucil Alone as a Front Line Therapy for B-Cell Chronic Lymphatic Leukemia

B-cell chronic lymphatic leukemia (B-CLL) has emerged as a prototype of malignancies characterized by a defective apoptosis that leads to a progressive accumulation of monoclonal B cells in the bone marrow, lymphoid tissues and peripheral blood. Chlorambucil, an aromatic derivative of nitrogen mustards, is the most common treatment for chronic lymphatic leukemia (CLL). The response rate with its use is 40 to 60%, with 3 to 10% only of patients achieving a complete response (CR). To improve response rates, chlorambucil has been combined with steroids or other agents. Theophylline, a methylxanthine commonly used as a treatment for asthma, has been shown to induce apoptosis in CLL cells both in vitro and in vivo. Chlorambucil induces apoptosis in CLL cells as well and synergy has been shown between the two drugs without affecting the normal B lymphocytes. The aim of this work was to evaluate the potential utility of this combination as a therapeutic modality for B-CLL. A total of 210 B-CLL patients were recruited and randomized to receive either chlorambucil in an oral dose of 0.1 mg/kg/day indefinitely (109 patients) or chlorambucil 0.1 mg/kg/day plus theophylline 200 mg bid, orally (101 patients). The main endpoints were overall survival from the time of randomization, disease status after 9 months and time to disease progression. After 9 months of treatment, clinical and hematological remission was achieved in 14 patients (12.8%) in the chlorambucil group, compared to 26 (25.7%) in the chlorambucil plus theophylline group (P value 0.01). Partial remission was observed for 38 patients (34.9%) in the chlorambucil group and 36 patients (35.7%) in the chlorambucil plus theophylline group. In patients treated with chlorambucil alone, the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 30 months and in patients treated with chlorambucil plus theophylline it was 44 months. Probabilities of PFS at 24 months for the chlorambucil-treated patients were 59% and 85% for the chlorambucil plus theophylline-treated patients. The difference was statistically significant (P = 0.006). The 3-year and 5-year overall survival rates were, respectively 75% and 38% in the chlorambucil group as opposed to 76% and 46% in the chlorambucil plus theophylline group. The median survival time was 55 months in the chlorambucil group and 56 months in the chlorambucil plus theophylline group. Forty-nine patients died in the chlorambucil group compared to 44 patients in the chlorambucil plus theophylline group (P = 0.371). The trial has demonstrated that adding theophylline to the standard treatment of B-CLL significantly increases effectiveness of treatment in terms of tumor response and time to disease progression. It could not improve the overall survival. Treatment with theophylline does not compromise quality of life or add significant toxicity. As newer drugs have recently become available for treating patients with CLL like fludarabine, further trials are needed to evaluate the effect of combining theophylline with these drugs.

Systematic genome‐wide approach to positional candidate cloning for identification of novel human disease genes

Recent large-scale genome projects afford a unique opportunity to identify many novel disease genes and thereby better understand the genetic basis of human disease. Functional Annotation of Mouse (FANTOM) 2, the largest mouse transcriptome project yet, provides a wealth of data on novel genes, splice variants and non-coding RNA, and provides a unique opportunity to identify novel human disease genes. To demonstrate the power of combining the FANTOM 2 cDNA dataset with a positional candidate approach and bioinformatics analysis to identify genes underlying human genetic disease. By mapping all FANTOM 2 cDNA to the human genome, we were able to identify mouse clones that co-localised on the human genome with mapped but uncloned human disease loci. By this method we identified mouse and corresponding human genes mapping within the loci of 100 different human genetic diseases (mapped interval of <5 cM). Of particular interest was the elucidation through FANTOM 2 novel mouse gene data of candidate human genes for the following: (i) developmental -disorders: neural tube defect, Meckel syndrome, Wolf--Hirschhorn syndrome and keratosis follicularis spinulosa decalvans cum ophiasi; (ii) neurological disorders: benign familial infantile convulsions 3, early-onset cerebellar ataxia with retained tendon reflexes, infantile-onset spinocerebellar ataxia and vacuolar neuro-myopathy and (iii) cancer-related syndromes: tylosis with oesophageal cancer and low-grade B-cell chronic lymphatic leukaemia. The FANTOM 2 data will dramatically accelerate efforts to identify genes underlying human disease. It will also facilitate the creation of transgenic mouse models to help elucidate the function of potential human disease genes.

Expression of activation-induced cytidine deaminase in human B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas

Activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) induces somatic hypermutation (SHM), class switch recombination (CSR), and immunoglobulin gene conversion in B-lymphocytes. Here we report for the first time the expression of AID in healthy human B-lymphocytes and in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas (B-NHL). AID mRNA expression in humans is restricted to the CD19(+)CD38(+)IgD(-) germinal center cells, namely the CD19(+)CD38(+)CD44(-) centroblasts. After in vitro stimulation of naive human B cells by CD40-L and IL-4, AID mRNA is strongly induced for only 48 hours. In a survey of human B-NHL AID was found to be constitutively expressed in follicular lymphoma and in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma but to be absent in B-precursor lymphoblastic leukemia, in mantle cell lymphoma, and in plasma cell myeloma. In B-cell chronic lymphatic leukemia, in immunocytoma, and in extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of MALT, AID mRNA was expressed only in some samples. In follicular lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, the expression of AID mRNA was coincident with the presence of SHM in the variable region exons of the immunoglobulin heavy-chain gene. In human B-NHL, the AID mRNA is spliced into 4 different variants but does not contain point mutations. Thus AID, which is highly regulated during healthy B-cell development, is constitutively expressed in human germinal center B-NHL and in subsets of nongerminal center B-NHL. This constitutive expression of AID may promote illegitimate DNA recombinations and somatic mutations in B-NHL.

In situ hybridization and its diagnostic applications in pathology.

In situ hybridization (ISH) is a technique by which specific nucleotide sequences are identified in cells or tissue sections. These may be endogenous, bacterial or viral, DNA or RNA. On the basis of research applications, the technique is now being translated into diagnostic practice, mainly in the areas of gene expression, infection and interphase cytogenetics. Diagnostic applications are most often based on short nucleotide sequences (oligomers) labelled with non-isotopic reporter molecules, and sites of binding may be localized by histochemical or immunohistochemical methods. The technique can be applied to routinely fixed and processed tissues; with some targets, it is even possible to obtain hybridization in autopsy material. ISH has been used to detect messenger RNA (mRNA) as a marker of gene expression, where levels of protein storage are low; for example, to confirm an endocrine tumour as the source of excess hormone production. Its application in infectious diseases has to date been mainly in viral infections, such as the typing of human papillomavirus (HPV) or the detection of Epstein-Barr virus by the presence of small nuclear RNAs (EBERs). The expression of mRNAs for histone proteins has been used to detect cells in S phase, and related methods may be applied to detect apoptotic cells. Using probes to chromosome-specific sequences, it is possible to detect aneuploidy, and to document changes in specific chromosomes, which may have prognostic significance in some tumours, such as B-cell chronic lymphatic leukaemia. Using sequence-specific probes, translocations can be identified, such as the t(11;12) of Ewing's sarcoma. This review presents an outline of the technique of in situ hybridization and discusses areas of current and potential diagnostic application.

The origin of the Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells in Hodgkin's disease and their relationship to HRS-like cells occuring in B-cell chronic lymphatic leukemia

The origin of the Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells in Hodgkin's disease and their relationship to HRS-like cells occuring in B-cell chronic lymphatic leukemia

The origin of the Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells in Hodgkin's disease and their relationship to HRS-like cells occuring in B-cell chronic lymphatic leukemia

The origin of the Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells in Hodgkin's disease and their relationship to HRS-like cells occuring in B-cell chronic lymphatic leukemia

A case of B-cell chronic lymphatic leukemia associated with pruriginous skin lesions and markedly elevated serum ige levels: Succesful therapy with IFN α after failure of IFNτ

A case of B-cell chronic lymphatic leukemia associated with pruriginous skin lesions and markedly elevated serum ige levels: Succesful therapy with IFN α after failure of IFNτ

Decreased CD45RA T Cells in B-Cell Chronic Lymphatic Leukemia Patients: Correlation With Disease Stage

T-cell subsets CD4, CD8 and suppressor-inducers (CD45RA) were determined in 20 patients with B-cell chronic lymphatic leukemia (B-CLL). The proportion of CD4 and CD45RA was decreased when compared with T cells from normal subjects. CD8 was markedly increased. The activity of concanavalin A-induced suppressor cells was not significantly different from that of normal controls and was negatively correlated to the percentage of CD4 of B-CLL patients. The selective loss of CD45RA cells was more prominent in patients in advanced Rai stages of the disease (III to IV) than in early stages (0 to II). Six patients of the advanced stages group suffered from autoimmune hemolytic anemia, whereas no patient in the early stages of disease showed an autoimmune phenomenon. Our results may indicate a mechanism of autoimmunity in B-CLL similar to that of patients with autoimmune diseases.