BACKGROUND: We developed a single-color multitarget flow cytometry (SM-FC) assay, a single-tube assay with graded mean fluorescence intensities (MFIs). We evaluated the repeatability of SM-FC, and its correlation with multicolor flow cytometry (MFC), to assess its application as a routine FC assay. METHODS: We selected CD19, CD3, CD4, and CD8 as antigen targets to analyze a lymphocyte subset. MFIs were graded by adjusting monoclonal antibody (mAb) volumes to detect several cell populations. Dimly labeled mAb was prepared by decreasing mAb volume and the optimum diluted volume was determined by serial dilution. SM-FC repeatability was analyzed 10 times in 2 normal controls. The correlation between SM-FC and MFC was evaluated in 20 normal and 23 patient samples. RESULTS: CV values (0.8-5.0% and 1.3-4.1% in samples 1 and 2, respectively) acquired by SM-FC with CD3-fluorescein alpha-isothyocyanate (FITC)dim+CD4-FITCbright and with CD19-FITCdim+CD3-FITCbright showed good repeatability, comparable to that acquired by MFC (1.6-3.7% and 1.0-4.8% in samples 1 and 2, respectively). Excellent correlation was observed between the 2 methods in the 20 normal samples (B cells, T cells, non-Thelper cells, and Thelper cells; r2=0.87, 0.97, 0.97, and 0.98, respectively; P<0.05). There were also linear relationships between SM-FC with CD19-FITCdim+CD3-FITCbright and CD8-PEdim+CD4-PEbright, and MFC, in the 23 patient samples (B cells, T cells, Tcytotoxic cells, and Thelper cells; r2> or =0.98, 0.99, 0.99, and 0.99, respectively; P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The multicolor, single-tube SM-FC technique is a potential alternative tool for identifying a lymphocyte subset.
Antibodies, Monoclonal/chemistry/*immunology ; Antigens, CD19/chemistry/metabolism ; Antigens, CD3/chemistry/metabolism ; Antigens, CD4/chemistry/metabolism ; Antigens, CD8/chemistry/metabolism ; B-Lymphocyte Subsets/immunology/metabolism ; Color ; Flow Cytometry/*methods ; Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate/*chemistry ; Humans ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets/immunology/metabolism

IL-10 production by CD19(+)CD5(+) B cells was investigated, by determining the expression levels of CD19, a classical B cell marker. Peripheral mononuclear cells were stained with fluorescence-conjugated anti-CD5, anti-CD19, anti-IL-10, and Annexin V. Interestingly, IL-10-producing B cells were found to be localised within the CD19(low)CD5(+) B cell subset. Apoptotic changes were also observed mainly in CD19(low) cells among B cells. Thus, CD5(+) B cells should be classified as CD19(high) and CD19(low) cells, and the immunological significance of CD19 for the IL-10 production by CD5(+) B cells requires further studies.
Antigens, CD19/metabolism ; Antigens, CD5/metabolism ; Apoptosis/immunology ; B-Lymphocyte Subsets/cytology/*immunology ; Cell Separation ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Interleukin-10/*biosynthesis

BACKGROUND: Bone marrow biopsies are routinely performed for staging patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). In addition to histomorphological studies, ancillary tools may be needed for accurate diagnosis. We investigated the clinical utility of multiparameter flow cytometric examination of bone marrow aspirates. METHODS: A total of 248 bone marrow specimens from 232 patients diagnosed with B-cell NHL were examined. Monoclonal antibodies directed against CD19, CD20, CD10 (or CD5), and kappa and lambda immunoglobulins were used. Multi-stage sequential gating was performed to select specific cells of interest, and the results were compared with bone marrow histology. RESULTS: The concordance rate between histomorphology and flow cytometry was 91.5% (n=227). Eight cases (3.2%) were detected by flow cytometry alone and were missed by histomorphology analysis, and 6 of these 8 cases showed minimal bone marrow involvement (0.09-2.2%). The diagnosis in these cases included large cell lymphoma (n=3), mantle cell lymphoma (n=3), and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma (n=2). Thirteen cases were histopathologically positive and immunophenotypically negative, and the diagnoses in these cases included diffuse large cell lymphoma (n=7), T-cell/histiocyte-rich large B-cell lymphoma (n=2), anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive large B-cell lymphoma (n=1), follicular lymphoma (n=1), MALT lymphoma (n=1), and unclassifiable lymphoma (n=1). CONCLUSIONS: Multi-color flow cytometry can be a useful method for assessing bone marrow in staging NHL and also plays a complementary role, especially in detecting small numbers of lymphoma cells.
Antibodies, Monoclonal/immunology ; Antigens, CD19/immunology/metabolism ; Antigens, CD20/immunology/metabolism ; Bone Marrow/*pathology ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Lymphoma, B-Cell/*pathology ; Male ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neprilysin/immunology/metabolism

Immunophenotype is critical for diagnosing common B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (common ALL) and detecting minimal residual disease. We developed a protocol to explore the immunophenotypic profiles of common ALL based on the expression levels of the antigens associated with B lymphoid development, including IL-7Rα (CD127), cytoplasmic CD79a (cCD79a), CD19, VpreB (CD179a), and sIgM, which are successive and essential for progression of B cells along their developmental pathway. Analysis of the immunophenotypes of 48 common ALL cases showed that the immunophenotypic patterns were highly heterogeneous, with the leukemic cell population differing from case to case. Through the comprehensive analysis of immunophenotypic patterns, the profiles of patient-specific composite leukemia cell populations could provide detailed information helpful for the diagnosis, therapeutic monitoring, and individualized therapies for common ALL.
Adult ; Antigens, CD19 ; metabolism ; B-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; metabolism ; CD79 Antigens ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin Light Chains, Surrogate ; metabolism ; Immunophenotyping ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; immunology ; pathology ; Receptors, Interleukin-7 ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDThe cause of late-onset hemorrhagic cystitis (LOHC) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) remains obscure. In clinical practice, some LOHC patients respond to immunosuppression. The aim of this study was to determine the immune pathogenesis of LOHC post allo-HSCT.

METHODSWith the diagnosis of LOHC, patients were given initial treatment consisting of fluid hydration, alkalization and forced diuresis, and empirical anti-viral therapy for 10 - 14 days or until a week after the virus became negative. The nonresponders were applied corticosteroid. Seven to ten days later, patients' response was evaluated. Along with treatment, CD19(+) B lymphocyte subsets were measured at various study points.

RESULTSFrom October 2009 to March 2010, we found 28 cases of LOHC occurred in 25 patients who underwent allo-HSCT in our hospital. Except that three cases were not treated according to the protocol, the other 25 cases were divided into three groups: anti-virus responders (Group A, n = 6), corticosteroid responders (Group B1, n = 16), corticosteroid and anti-virus nonresponders (Group C, n = 3) according to their clinical response. Percentages of CD19(+)CD5(+) B lymphocytes were not significantly different among three groups at onset of LOCH. However, in Group B1 after the first anti-virus phase, percentages of CD19(+)CD5(+) lymphocytes significantly increased comparing with those at onset (P = 0.022), and then significantly decreased at PR (P = 0.003) and CR (P = 0.002) with corticosteroid treatment. But significant change was not observed in Groups A and C.

CONCLUSIONThe immune etiology seems to be involved in the development of LOHC and the proportion of CD19(+)CD5(+) lymphocytes may serve as a cellular biomarker to predict the response to corticosteroid in LOHC.

Adolescent ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; therapeutic use ; Adult ; Antigens, CD19 ; metabolism ; B-Lymphocytes ; metabolism ; CD5 Antigens ; metabolism ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cystitis ; drug therapy ; immunology ; therapy ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the immunophenotype and chromosome karyotype characteristics of leukemic stem cells (LSC) in Uyghur leukemia pediatric patients.

METHODSThe morphological features of LSC in culture in vitro was observed by flow cytometry. The immunophenotype was assessed by detective flow cytometry. The chromosome karyotype was analyzed by R-banding technique.

RESULTSThe LSC showed suspended floating colonies growing in the culture medium, and grew well and proliferated constantly in culture over 8 months. Among the 13 children with AML, there were 10 CD34(+)CD38(-)CD123(+) and CD33(+) cases, 10 CD44(+) cases, 10 CD96(+) cases, and 5 CD90(+) cases. Among the 13 children with B-ALL, there were 6 CD34(+)CD20(-)CD19(+) cases, 7 CD9(+) cases, and 5 CD123(+) cases. Among the 9 children with acute T lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), there were 5 CD34(+)CD7(-) and CD90(+) cases, and 4 CD123(+) cases. Among the 13 cases of AML, 5 cases showed chromosome translocation t(15;17), one case chromosome translocation t(8;21), and 7 cases showed no chromosome karyotype abnormality. Among the 22 ALL cases, there were chromosome translocation t(12;21) in 1 case, t(9;22) in 3 case, hyperdiploid in 2 cases, and 16 cases without karyotype abnormalities. Twenty-nine children received induction remission therapy. Among them, 12 died, including 9 CD96(-)positive cases and 3 CD96(-)negative cases, with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe LSC of Uyghur leukemia pediatric patients in Xinjiang express CD9 and CD19 in ALL, and express CD123 and CD90 simultaneously in ALL and AML. The expression of CD96 is one of factors of poor prognosis.

Adolescent ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Antigens, CD19 ; metabolism ; Child ; China ; ethnology ; Diploidy ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Interleukin-3 Receptor alpha Subunit ; metabolism ; Karyotyping ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; drug therapy ; genetics ; immunology ; pathology ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; immunology ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; drug therapy ; genetics ; immunology ; pathology ; Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; drug therapy ; genetics ; immunology ; pathology ; Remission Induction ; Tetraspanin-29 ; metabolism ; Thy-1 Antigens ; metabolism ; Translocation, Genetic

The genes encoding for the light and heavy chain variable regions were cloned by RT-PCR from a murine monoclonal hybridoma cell line, which could produce monoclonal antibody to recognize CD19 antigen on human B lymphocyte. Then fused the light and heavy chain variable regions together by a short peptide linker containing 15 amino acid (Gly4Ser)3 using splice-overlap extensive PCR. The recombinant anti-CD19- ScFv was subcloned into the expression vector pET28a and induced to be expressed by IPTG in E. coli BL21. SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis showed that the recombinant anti-CD19-ScFv gene was expressed in E. coli BL21. ScFv expression was in the form of an inclusion bodies and the purified fusion protein was obtained after a series of purification steps including cell break, inclusion body solubilization, Ni2+ metal affinity chromatography and protein refolding. Flow cytometry analysis showed that the ScFv can react with human CD19 antigen. In conclusion, recombinant anti-CD19-ScFv gene has been successful constructed and expressed in E. coli BL21, which could provide a basic study for the future target therapy to the B lymphoid leukemia and B lymphoma.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Antigens, CD19 ; immunology ; Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin Fragments ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Immunoglobulin Variable Region ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics

BACKGROUND: The aberrant, leukemia-associated antigen expression patterns allow us to discriminate leukemic blasts from normal precursor cells. Our major goal was to determine a guideline for the detection of minimal residual disease using CD20+/CD34+ and myeloid Ag+/CD19+ combination in the bone marrow of acute leukemia in complete remission (CR) after chemotherapy. METHODS: Bone marrow samples from 117 patients with acute leukemia in complete remission after chemotherapy and from 22 healthy controls were immunophenotyped by triple staining and measured by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The CD20+/CD34+ cells in the large lymphocyte gate (R1) ranged from 0% to 3.24% (0.8+/-0.82%, P=0.000) in CD20+/CD34+ B-lineage ALL CR (N=31), from 0.03% to 4.2% (0.7+/-0.83%, P=0.000) in CD20-/CD34- B-lineage ALL CR (N=66), from 0.1% to 0.96% (0.45+/-0.32%, P=0.016) in T-ALL CR (N=10), and from 0.02% to 0.48% (0.18+/-0.15%, P=0.776) in AML CR (N=10). The CD13,33+/CD19+ cells in R1 gate ranged from 0% to 2.69% (0.37+/-0.48%, P<0.001) in CD13,33+/CD19+ B-lineage ALL CR (N=31), from 0% to 1.8% (0.31+/-0.28%, P<0.001) in CD13,33-/CD19+B-lineage ALL CR (N=65), from 0.02% to 0.64% (0.29+/-0.22%, P=0.071) in T-ALL CR (N=9), and from 0% to 0.17% (0.07+/-0.09%, P=0.341) in AML CR (N=3). CONCLUSIONS: Using an immunophenotypic method for the detection of early relapse or minimal residual disease of B-lineage ALL bone marrow in CR after chemotherapy, different cutoff values should be applied according to antigen combination and gating. When the proportion of aberrant antigen combination was less than 5% in large lymphocyte gate, the results should be interpreted with caution.
Acute Disease ; Antigens, CD/*metabolism ; Antigens, CD19/metabolism ; Antigens, CD20/metabolism ; Antigens, CD34/metabolism ; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic/analysis/metabolism ; Bone Marrow Cells/*classification/metabolism ; Flow Cytometry ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells/classification/metabolism ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Leukemia/*diagnosis/drug therapy ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/diagnosis/drug therapy ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Remission Induction ; Tumor Markers, Biological/immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the telomerase activity and the telomere length in CD4(+), CD8(+) and CD19(+) lymphocytes from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

METHODSTelomerase activity of CD4(+), CD8(+) and CD19(+) cells from patients with SLE and normal controls was examined by telomeric repeats amplification protocol. Telomere length in those cells was measured by Southern blot method.

RESULTCD4(+), CD8(+) and CD19(+) cells in patients with SLE showed high telomerase activity, but only telomerase activity of CD19(+) cells was significantly higher than that in controls. The length of telomere in CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells was significantly shorter than that in controls, but not in CD19(+) cells.

CONCLUSIONHigher telomerase activity in CD19(+) cells and shortened telomere length in CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells of patients with SLE may be associated with pathogenesis of SLE.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antigens, CD19 ; immunology ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; enzymology ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; enzymology ; Female ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; enzymology ; immunology ; Lymphocytes ; enzymology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Telomerase ; metabolism ; Telomere ; genetics

PURPOSE: The function of regulatory B lymphocytes is known to be abnormal in inflammatory diseases. However, a recent study indicates that IL-10+ B cells seem to be expanded in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Therefore, the state of IL-10+ B cells in the peripheral blood from RA patients and healthy controls were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CD19+ cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were purified from blood samples of RA patients and age and gender-matched healthy controls, and stimulated with CD40 ligand and CpG for 48 hours. Then, intracellular IL-10 in CD19+ cells was analyzed using flow cytometry. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the proportion of IL-10+ B cells between 10 RA patients and 10 healthy controls (RA, 0.300+/-0.07 vs. healthy control 0.459+/-0.07, p=0.114). The proportion of induced IL-10+ B cells to total B cells in RA patients was significantly higher than those in controls (RA, 4.44+/-3.44% vs. healthy control 2.44+/-1.64%, p=0.033). However, the proportion of IL-10+ B cells to total B cells correlated negatively with disease activity in RA patients (r=-0.398, p=0.040). Erythrocyte sedimentation rate or C-reactive protein or medication was not associated with the proportion of IL-10+ B cells. CONCLUSION: The proportion of induced IL-10+ B cell increased in RA patients compared to healthy control, however, negatively correlated with disease activity in RA.
Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, CD19/metabolism ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/blood/*immunology/pathology ; B-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/metabolism/*physiology ; Biological Markers/blood ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-10/metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Severity of Illness Index