OBJECTIVETo explore the clinicopathologic features, immunophenotype, differential diagnosis and gene mutation status of the Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD).

METHODSClinical and pathologic findings of 3 ECD cases were examined by gross, microscopic, immunohistochemical methods and BRAF V600E mutation. Related literatures were reviewed.

RESULTSTwo male patients and one female patient presented clinically with multiple skin nodules, bone pain and bony lesions by imaging study. Microscopically, the lesions were composed of spindle-shaped fibroblasts, foamy histiocytes and scattered Touton-type giant cells embedded in reactive fibrous tissue. Lymphocytes, plasma cells, and multinucleated giant cells were also found. Immunohistochemically, all histiocytes were positive for CD68, none of which expressed CD1a, although 2 cases focally expressed weak S-100 stain. In 2 cases,BRAF V600E mutation was detected.

CONCLUSIONSECD is a rare disease of xanthogranulomatous histiocytosis.Its diagnosis relies on pathological and immunohistochemical findings, but correlation with clinical information, especially radiographic findings should be performed.No effective treatment of the disease is currently available.

Antigens, CD ; analysis ; Antigens, CD1 ; analysis ; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic ; analysis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Erdheim-Chester Disease ; genetics ; immunology ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; S100 Proteins ; analysis ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo search a method for showing dust granules in phagocytes.

METHODSThe autopsy samples of 10 cases who died of non-pulmonary diseases(group A), 6 cases with silicosis(group B) and 5 cases of dead fetus(group C) were collected. The samples of lung, spleen and lymphnodes were stained by methods of (1)HE staining; (2)Warthin-Starry staining(W-S staining) and modified W-S staining; (3) CD68 (as a first antibody) immunohistochemical staining. The ultrastructure and chemical component of the dust granules in the pulmonary phagocytes(dust cells) of group A(3 cases) and group B(3 cases) were observed and analyzed by transmission electron microscope(TEM) and analytic electron microscope(AEM).

RESULTSIn group A and B smaller or minute dust granules which could not be shown by HE staining method were clearly shown by W-S staining and modified W-S staining methods. There were no positive granules found in group C. The CD68 marker of the dust cells was positive. The size, shape, density and chemical elements of the dust granules of group A were different from those of group B under TEM and AEM, excluding bacteria and other intracellular contents.

CONCLUSIONThe dust granules in the phagocytes could be shown by W-S staining method, its staining effect for minute dust granules is superior to general HE staining. However, the determination of chemical elements of dusts must depend on AEM.

Antigens, CD ; analysis ; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic ; analysis ; Dust ; Humans ; Microscopy, Electron ; Phagocytes ; ultrastructure ; Silicosis ; pathology ; Staining and Labeling ; methods

The phenotypes of the bone marrow cells in various subtypes of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and its clinical implication were explored. The antigen expression of a panel of antigens expressed in marrow cells from 30 patients with subtypes of MDS was assayed by alkaline phosphatase anti-alkaline phosphatase method. The results showed that the expression of myeloid antigens appeared abnormality, CD13 and CD33, found on granulocyte and macrophage precursors, increased, and CD15 decreased. There were no significant changes for monocytic antigen CD14 and lymphoid antigens CD7 and CD10. CD34 was increased in RAEB/RAEB-t and was not increased in RA/RAS patients. CD71, expressed by erythroblast and proliferative cells, was higher in all subtypes of MDS than that in control group. It is suggested that the bone marrow cells from MDS patients showed abnormality of more than two series of immunophenotypes, detection of immunophenotype in MDS cells might be contributed to the diagnosis and predicting prognosis.
Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, CD ; analysis ; Antigens, CD34 ; analysis ; Antigens, CD7 ; analysis ; Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte ; analysis ; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic ; analysis ; Bone Marrow Cells ; immunology ; CD13 Antigens ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Lewis X Antigen ; analysis ; Lipopolysaccharide Receptors ; analysis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; immunology ; pathology ; Neprilysin ; analysis ; Receptors, Transferrin ; Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 3

To characterize cellular responses during hepatic regeneration, we examined 13 explant livers and 5 liver allografts by immunohistochemistry for cytokeratin 7, HepPar1, CD68, alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen as well as reticulin and Masson-trichrome staining. Within a week after liver damage, elongated CD68-positive cells were detected along the border of necrotic area. The number of alpha-SMA-positive cells was slightly increased along the sinusoids. Ductular proliferation or fibrosis was negligible. After one or two weeks, the size and number of CD68-positive cells were markedly increased. alpha-SMA-positive cells increased in number within lobules and portal tracts. Ductular proliferation occurred predominantly at the limiting plate or along the border of necrotic areas. After one month, necrotic parenchyma was replaced by many ductules, CD68-positive cells, alpha-SMA-positive cells. Nodules of regenerating hepatocytes and irregular fibrosis were diffusely present. Other nonparenchymal cells were not significantly changed. These observations indicate that chronological interaction between nonparenchymal and parenchymal cells occur during the course of human hepatic regeneration and suggest extensive porto-periportal fibrosis more than a few months after the onset of fulminant hepatitis is a major indicator of chronic functional impairment necessitating liver transplantation.
Actins/analysis ; Antigens, CD/analysis ; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic/analysis ; Human ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratin/analysis ; Liver/*cytology ; *Liver Regeneration ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen/analysis

The object of this study was to explore the effects of Panax notoginosides (PNS) on proliferation and differentiation of human CD34(+) stem/progenitor cells. CD34(+) cells were isolated from human bone marrow by using immune beads of Dynal M- 450 system. The cells were exposed to PNS at different concentrations in both liquid and semi-solid culture for 14 days. The cells were marked with monoclonal antibodies and analyzed by flow cytometry after culture. The CFU-Mix colony formation from CD34(+) cells was assayed. The results showed that: (1) The yield of CD34(+) cells after being selected by immune beads were (1.03 +/- 0.74)% out of bone marrow nuclear cells with purity of 86% - 93%. (2) PNS (10 - 25 mg/L) stimulated the proliferation of CD34(+) cells, and raised the colony numbers of CFU-Mix obviously in vitro. PNS 25 mg/L was the optimal concentration to promote proliferation of CD34(+) cells, the increasing rate of CFU-Mix colony was (34.7 +/- 16.0)%. (3) The differentiation of CD34(+) cells was induced by exposure to PNS (25, 50 and 100 mg/L) in liquid culture for 14 days. The percentages of CD33(+) and CD15(+) cells were increased after PNS exposure, which were significantly higher than those of control (P < 0.01), however CD71(+) and G-A(+) cells were no obviously difference after PNS treatment. In conclusion, Panax notoginosides not only promote the proliferation of CD34(+) cells, but also induce the differentiation committed to granulocytes.
Antigens, CD ; analysis ; Antigens, CD34 ; analysis ; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic ; analysis ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Ginsenosides ; pharmacology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Humans ; Lewis X Antigen ; analysis ; Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 3

Acute monocytic leukemia is a distinct subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with characteristic biology and clinical features. This study was designed to compare the immunophenotypical features and clinical manifestations of the patients with AML-M(5a) to that of patients with AML-M(5b), and to identify differences between M(5a) and M(5b) and to explore their relations. A total of 58 cases of de novo adult patients with AML M(5) were investigated. Immunofluorescence analysis by flow cytometry was performed to determine the immunophenotype of the leukemic cells in all cases. Meanwhile, clinical data of these cases were studied retrospectively. The results showed that the immunophenotypes of monocytic leukemic cells in patients with AML M(5) were heterogeneous, and CD68 and CD11b were expressed higher in patients with AML M(5a), compared with that in patients with AML M(5b) (P < 0.01). The significant differences in sex, extramedullary infiltration, WBC counts of peripheral blood, complete remission rate and disease-free survival (DFS > 300 days) between the patients with AML M(5a) and M(5b) did not exist (P > 0.05). It is concluded that the special individual immunophenotype features can be detected in patients with either of AML M(5a) or M(5b), and that expressions of CD68 and CD11b were much higher in M(5a). It seems that the complete remission rate and disease-free survival of patients with M(5a) and M(5b) are not different from that of currently available therapy.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Antigens, CD ; analysis ; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic ; analysis ; CD11b Antigen ; analysis ; Female ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute ; classification ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical significance of CD163 in the diagnosis and the evaluation of severity and prognosis of childhood hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH).

METHODSNinety-four children were classified into Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive (n=55) and EBV-negative groups (n=39; control group). The EBV-positive group was subgrouped into infectious mononucleosis (IM; n=47) and HLH (n=8). Serum levels of soluble CD163 were measured using ELISA. Expression of CD163 on mononuclear cells was detected by flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe serum levels of soluble CD163 were>10 000 ng/mL in all eight HLH patients (>30 000 ng/mL in 3 cases). The mean serum levels of soluble CD163 in the HLH group were significantly higher than in the control and IM groups (P<0.05). The serum levels of soluble CD163 in EBV-positive children were positively correlated with EBV-DNA copies and serum levels of ferritin and LDH, but were negatively correlated with white blood cell count, neutrophil count, hemoglobin and platelet count. The follow-up after treatment for three HLH patients showed that serum levels of soluble CD163 were significantly reduced, but the soluble CD163 levels rebounded in one patient who was complicated by fungal pneumonia infection.

CONCLUSIONSThe levels of serum soluble CD163 may be related to the severity in children with HLH. The EBV-positive children with soluble CD163 levels >10 000 ng/mL should be considered the possibility of HLH.

Adolescent ; Antigens, CD ; analysis ; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic ; analysis ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; analysis

Asthma is a chronic disease of airway inflammation due to excessive T helper cell type 2 (Th2) response. Present treatment based on inhalation of synthetic glucocorticoids can only control Th2-driven chronic eosinophilic inflammation, but cannot change the immune tolerance of the body to external allergens. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are the main negative regulatory cells of the immune response. Tregs play a great role in regulating allergic, autoimmune, graft-versus-host responses, and other immune responses. In this review, we will discuss the classification and biological characteristics, the established immunomodulatory mechanisms, and the characteristics of induced differentiation of Tregs. We will also discuss the progress of Tregs in the field of asthma. We believe that further studies on the regulatory mechanisms of Tregs will provide better treatments and control strategies for asthma.
Antigens, CD/analysis* ; Apyrase/analysis* ; Asthma/immunology* ; Cell Differentiation ; Cytokines/metabolism* ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Transfusion ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology*

Clinical transplantation has indicated that cord blood (CB) can be used in the hematopoietic reconstitution in the children, but not well used in the adult patients because of the low cell amount. The present study aimed to explore the capability of proliferation and differentiation of the hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells derived from human mature placenta tissue (PT) in vitro, and to find a new source of hematopoietic/progenitor cells for clinical transplantation. CD34(+) cells in human mature placenta tissue were isolated and characterized by using enzyme-digestion method and flow cytometry. A long culture system without cytokines was established with human mature placenta tissue-derived mononucleated cells and cord blood mononuclear cells. The number of nucleated cells was weekly counted in culture for 14 weeks. The number of CFC was counted in culture for 2 weeks. The results showed that the CFC yields (CFU-GM, 186.90 +/- 24.52; BFU-E, 101.40 +/- 13.35) and the percentage of CD34(+) cells (2.74 +/- 0.61%) and CD34(+)/CD38(-) cells (2.46 +/- 0.42%) in placenta tissue (PT) were higher than CFC (CFU-GM, 136.90 +/- 25.15; BFU-E, 49.20 +/- 8.13), CD34(+) cells (1.73 +/- 0.32%) and CD34(+)/CD38(-) cells (0.80 +/- 0.25%) in cord blood (CB). The MNCs from PT have shown more survival ability than the cells from CB in the long-term cell culture condition; and the cells from PT increased by 2 times. It is concluded that the placenta may be another hematopoietic organ in ontogeny. The cells from placenta were more juvenile, and may be favorable source for clinical stem cell transplantation.
Antigens, CD34 ; analysis ; CD36 Antigens ; analysis ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; cytology ; Placenta ; cytology

BACKGROUNDAsthma is a chronic airway disease with inflammation characterized by physiological changes (airway hyper-responsiveness, AHR) and pathological changes (inflammatory cells infiltration and mucus production). Eosinophils play a key role in the allergic inflammation. But the causative relationship between eosinophils and airway inflammation is hard to prove. One of the reasons is lack of activation marker of murine eosinophils. We investigated the expression of CD69 on murine eosinophils in vitro, the relationship between the expression of CD69 on eosinophils from peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and on airway inflammation in asthmatic mice.

METHODSEosinophils from peripheral blood of IL-5 transgenic mice (NJ.1638) were purified. Mice were divided into five groups: wild type mice sensitized and challenged with saline (WS group), wild type mice sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (WO group), IL-5(-/-) mice sensitized and challenged with saline and transferred with purified eosinophils (ISE group), IL-5(-/-) mice sensitized and challenged with OVA and transferred with purified eosinophils (IOE group), IL-5(-/-) mice sensitized and challenged with OVA and transferred with purified eosinophils, pretreated with anti CD4 monoclonal antibody (IOE+antiCD4mAb group). IL-5(-/-) mice were sensitized with OVA at day 0 and day 14, then challenged with OVA aerosol. On days 24, 25, 26 and 27 purified eosinophils were transferred intratracheally to IL-5(-/-) mice. On day 28, blood and BALF were collected and CD69 expression on eosinophils measured by flowcytometry.

RESULTSPurified eosinophils did not express CD69. But eosinophils cultured with PMA + MA, IFN-gamma, IL-5 or GM-CSF expressed CD69 strongly. Eosinophils from blood of WO, WS group did not express CD69 at all. The numbers of eosinophils in BALF of WO group, IOE group, ISE group and IOE + antiCD4mAb group were significantly higher than in mice of WS group which did not have eosinophils at all. CD69 expression on eosinophils in BALF of IOE and WO groups was strong. Eosinophils in BALF of ISE and IOE + antiCDmAb groups did not express CD69. The mucus production result was similar to CD69 expression. There were eosinophils infiltration in lung slides of all groups except WS group.

CONCLUSIONActivation in airway of eosinophils could directly lead to airway inflammation.

Animals ; Antigens, CD ; analysis ; Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte ; analysis ; Asthma ; immunology ; physiopathology ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; cytology ; Eosinophils ; immunology ; Inflammation ; physiopathology ; Lectins, C-Type ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic