The 2016 WHO diagnostic criteria for chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) require both absolute and relative monocytosis (≥1×10⁹/L and ≥10% of white blood cell counts) in peripheral blood. Moreover, myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) features in bone marrow and/or MPN-associated mutations tend to support MPN with monocytosis rather than CMML. We assessed the impact of the 2016 WHO criteria on CMML diagnosis, compared with the 2008 WHO criteria, through a retrospective review of the medical records of 38 CMML patients diagnosed according to the 2008 WHO classification. Application of the 2016 WHO criteria resulted in the exclusion of three (8%) patients who did not fulfill the relative monocytosis criterion and eight (21%) patients with an MPN-associated mutation. These 11 patients formed the 2016 WHO others group; the remaining 27 formed the 2016 WHO CMML group. The significant difference in the platelet count and monocyte percentage between the two groups indicated that the 2016 WHO criteria lead to a more homogenous and improved definition of CMML compared with the 2008 WHO criteria, which may have led to over-diagnosis of CMML. More widespread use of molecular tests and more sophisticated clinical and morphological evaluations are necessary to diagnose CMML accurately.
Bone Marrow ; Classification ; Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Chronic* ; Leukocytes ; Medical Records ; Monocytes ; Platelet Count ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: Endometriosis is a disease affecting a large population of women all over the world. A local sterile inflammation occurs in the peritonel cavity of patients with endometriosis. It suggests that immunological events play a major role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. We have studied the levels of serveral T cell and monocyte derived cytokines, especially IL-6 (promoter of immune response) and IL-10 (inhibitor of immune response), in the peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis to characterize the change of immune response that occurs at the site of endometriosis. Method: This study was performed in Hallym university hospital from October, 1997 to October 1998 and enrolled 29 women with gross or microscopic findings of minimal to severe endometriosis in case group, and 28 women without visual evidence of pelvic endometriosis and with benign gynecologic disease in control group. IL-6 and IL-10 levels in the peritoneal fluid were determined using commercial ELISA and compared between endometriosis and controls and between fertile and infertile women with endometriosis and according to the revised American Fertility Society classification. RESULT: IL-6 was higher and IL-10 was lower in the peritoneal fluid of endometriosis group than of control group. Cyclic variations in the IL-6 concentrations were seen in endometriosis group : the concentrations in the secretory phase were significantly higher than those in the proliferative phase. In endometriosis group, IL-6 concentrations of infertile women were higher than fertile women. Both IL-6 and IL-10 in the peritoneal fluid of endomtriosis group did not show significant correlation according to r-AFS stages. CONCLUSION: Increased IL-6 and decreased IL-10 levels in the peritoneal fluid may be related to infertility and pathogenesis in the endometriosis, suggesting that partially contribute to the disturbed immune regulation observed in endometriosis.
Ascitic Fluid* ; Classification ; Cytokines ; Endometriosis* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Fertility ; Genital Diseases, Female ; Humans ; Infertility ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-10* ; Interleukin-6* ; Monocytes

Human adenovirus serotype 5 (HAd5) infect dendritic cells with low efficiency which restricts the use of HAd5 as an antigen carrying vector in such cells. Aiming to find a novel strategy to detour the traditional method for more convenient clinical use, peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from Chinese rhesus macaques were chosen as the target cells for HAd5. In vitro infection protocol was optimized which indicated centrifugation at 1000g could ease the entry of adenovirus. By this protocol, CD14 positive monocytes were infected at high efficiencies (> 80%), and about 10% of natural killer cells were infected; while T and B lymphocytes were rarely infected. Interestingly and importantly, it was the first time to report that in our in vitro study monocytes were more susceptible to HAd5-EGFP in macaques with higher preexisting vector specific neutralizing antibody titers. This phenomenon indicates an expansion of application of adenovirus based vectors for vaccine development and clinical use, especially for the population with preexisting neutralizing antibodies.
Adenoviridae ; classification ; genetics ; immunology ; Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Female ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharide Receptors ; analysis ; Macaca mulatta ; Male ; Monocytes ; virology ; Neutralization Tests ; Recombination, Genetic ; Serotyping

To investigate the effects of DENV infection on the expression of Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in monocytes, and to explore which innate immune signaling pathway is responsible for VEGF induction. Real-time PCR was used to determine the expression levels of VEGF in DENV-infected THP-1. We found that different serotype viruses (DENV1, DENV2, DENV3) induced the VEGF expression. Moreover, VEGF expression was significantly increased in human primary monocytes infected with DENV 2. In addition, VEGF induction by DENV2 was significantly impaired by knockdown of TLR3 and interferon-beta promoter stimulator 1 (IPS-1), or by inhibition of ERK, JNK or NF-kappaB. These results demonstrated that DENV induced VEGF expression in monocytes, and the activation of TLR3, IPS-1 signal pathways were required for DENV2-triggered VEGF induction, suggesting that VEGF might be a promising therapeutic target for DHF.
Dengue ; genetics ; immunology ; virology ; Dengue Virus ; classification ; genetics ; physiology ; Humans ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Monocytes ; NF-kappa B ; genetics ; immunology ; Up-Regulation ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; immunology

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Inflammation and activation of immune cells play important roles in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. We investigated the activation status of plasma inflammatory markers and immune cells in angina patients. METHODS: We analyzed the plasma level of C-reactive protein (CRP) as a marker of inflammation in 24 patients with angina pectoris (12 unstable angina, 12 stable angina), and 12 normal subjects. The degree of activation of peripheral blood monocytes was assessed by Northern analysis of pro-atherogenic cytokines and the activation status of T-lymphocytes was measured by flow-cytometric analysis of HLA-DR expression on T-cells. RESULTS: Plasma level of CRP was highest in unstable angina patients (1.63+/-0.70 mg/l) and lowest in the control subjects (0.22+/-0.08 mg/l)(p=0.03). We also observed a high correlation between CRP level and the occurrence of minor and major coronary events during 6 months of follow-up. The percentage of HLA-DR positive T-lymphocyte was significantly increased in the unstable angina patients (26.8+/-1.4%) compared with that in the control (14.7+/-1.2%)(p=0.0053). When baseline levels of cytokine mRNA were measured in monocytes, the percentages of the patients expressing higher than normal levels of IL-8, IL-1b, MCP-1, and TF mRNAs was 37.5, 29.2, 33.3, and 37.5%, respectively (p=0.0143, 0.0371, 0.0233, and 0.0143, respectively). Basal mRNA levels of interleukin (IL)-8, tissue factor (TF), IL-1b and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) showed a strong correlation with each other (p<0.01 in all combination) but not with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha or transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1. CONCLUSION: We observed increase in plasma CRP levels and activation of T-lymphocytes in angina patients. These results may help further classification of angina patients according to the activation of inflammatory markers and understanding the prognosis of the disease.
Angina Pectoris* ; Angina, Unstable ; Atherosclerosis ; C-Reactive Protein ; Chemokine CCL2 ; Classification ; Cytokines ; Follow-Up Studies ; HLA-DR Antigens ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-8 ; Interleukins ; Monocytes ; Plasma* ; Prognosis ; RNA, Messenger ; T-Lymphocytes* ; Thromboplastin ; Transforming Growth Factors ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Background: Many acute and chronic lung diseases including pneumoconiosis are characterized by the presence of increased numbers of activated macrophages. These macrophages generate several inflammatory cell chemoattractants, by which neutrophil migrate from vascular compartment to the alveolar space. Recruited neutrophils secrete toxic oxygen radicals or proteolytic enzymes and induce inflamatory response. Continuing inflammatory response results in alteration of the pulmonary structure and irreversible fibrosis. Recently, a polypeptide with specific neutrophil chemotactic activity, inlerleukin-8(IL-8), has been cloned and isolated from a number of cells including: monocytes, macrophages and fibroblasts. IL-1 and/or TNF-alpha preceded for the synthesis of IL-8, and we already observed high level of IL-1 and TNF- alpha in the pneumoconioses. So we hypothesized that IL-8 may be a central role in the pathogenesis of pneumoconiosis. In order to evaluate the clinical utility of IL-8 as a biomarker in the early diagnosis of pneumoconiosis, we investigated the increase of IL-8 in the pneumoconiotic patient and the correlation between IL-8 level and progression of pneumoconiosis Method: We measured IL-8 in the serum of 48 patients with pneumoconiosis and 16 persons without dust exposure history as a control group. Pneumoconiotic cases were divided into 3 groups according to ILO Classification: suspicious group(n=16), small opacity group(n=16) and large opacity group(n=16). IL-8 was measured by a sandwich enzyme immunoassay technique. All data were expressed as the mean +/- standard deviation. Results: 1) The mean value of age was higher in the small opacity and large opacity group than comparison group, but smoking history was even. Duration of dust exposure was not different among 3 pneumoconiosis groups. 2) IL-8 level was 70.50 +/-53.63 pg/ml in the suspicious group, 107.50+/-45.88 pg/ml in the small opacity group, 132.50+/-73.47 pg/ml in the large opacity group and 17.85+/- 33.85 pg/ml in the comparison group. IL-8 concentration in all pneumoconiosis group was significant higher than that in the comparison group(p<0.001). 3) IL-8 level tended to increase with the progression of pneumoconiosis. Multiple comparison test using Anova/Scheffe analysis showed a significant difference between suspicious group and large opacity group(p<0.05). 4) The level of IL-8 was correlated with the progression of pneumoconiosis(r=0.4199, p<0.05). Conclusion: IL-8 is thought to be a good biomarker for the early diagnosis of pneumoconiosis.
Chemotactic Factors ; Classification ; Clone Cells ; Dust ; Early Diagnosis ; Fibroblasts ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-1 ; Interleukin-8* ; Lung Diseases ; Macrophages ; Monocytes ; Neutrophils ; Peptide Hydrolases ; Pneumoconiosis ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors of multiple gastric polyps according to the histological classification of gastric polyps.METHODS: Subjects with multiple gastric polyps (at least three) during endoscopy were enrolled prospectively. They were assigned to a fundic gland polyp (FGP) group and hyperplastic polyp (HP) group based on a histological classification of gastric polyps. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) was confirmed by its histology. Serum gastrin was measured using the radioimmunoassay method. A questionnaire was taken regarding the intake of proton pump inhibitor and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, alcohol, smoking history, and diet.RESULTS: Among the 60 subjects enrolled from 2015 to 2018 at Seoul National University Bungdang Hospital, 47 and 13 subjects were assigned to the FGP and HP groups, respectively. The H. pylori infection rate was 12.8% in the FGP group, which is lower than that in the HP group (69.2%, p<0.001). The gastrin level was higher in the HP group (194.7 pg/dL, range 50.6–387.8 pg/dL) than in the FGP group (57.4 pg/dL, range 24.8–79.0 pg/dL) (p=0.007). Histologically, neutrophil infiltration in the antrum and body of the stomach were higher in the HP group than in the FGP group (p=0.022 and p=0.030, respectively). In contrast, monocyte infiltration in the antrum and body of the stomach were higher in the FGP group than in the HP group (p=0.018 and p<0.001, respectively).CONCLUSIONS: HPs arise from inflammation caused by H. pylori. On the other hand, the FGP was not associated with H. pylori or environmental factors.
Classification ; Cohort Studies ; Diet ; Endoscopy ; Gastrins ; Hand ; Helicobacter pylori ; Inflammation ; Methods ; Monocytes ; Neutrophil Infiltration ; Polyps ; Prospective Studies ; Proton Pump Inhibitors ; Proton Pumps ; Radioimmunoassay ; Risk Factors ; Seoul ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Stomach

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors of multiple gastric polyps according to the histological classification of gastric polyps. METHODS: Subjects with multiple gastric polyps (at least three) during endoscopy were enrolled prospectively. They were assigned to a fundic gland polyp (FGP) group and hyperplastic polyp (HP) group based on a histological classification of gastric polyps. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) was confirmed by its histology. Serum gastrin was measured using the radioimmunoassay method. A questionnaire was taken regarding the intake of proton pump inhibitor and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, alcohol, smoking history, and diet. RESULTS: Among the 60 subjects enrolled from 2015 to 2018 at Seoul National University Bungdang Hospital, 47 and 13 subjects were assigned to the FGP and HP groups, respectively. The H. pylori infection rate was 12.8% in the FGP group, which is lower than that in the HP group (69.2%, p<0.001). The gastrin level was higher in the HP group (194.7 pg/dL, range 50.6–387.8 pg/dL) than in the FGP group (57.4 pg/dL, range 24.8–79.0 pg/dL) (p=0.007). Histologically, neutrophil infiltration in the antrum and body of the stomach were higher in the HP group than in the FGP group (p=0.022 and p=0.030, respectively). In contrast, monocyte infiltration in the antrum and body of the stomach were higher in the FGP group than in the HP group (p=0.018 and p<0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: HPs arise from inflammation caused by H. pylori. On the other hand, the FGP was not associated with H. pylori or environmental factors.
Classification ; Cohort Studies ; Diet ; Endoscopy ; Gastrins ; Hand ; Helicobacter pylori ; Inflammation ; Methods ; Monocytes ; Neutrophil Infiltration ; Polyps ; Prospective Studies ; Proton Pump Inhibitors ; Proton Pumps ; Radioimmunoassay ; Risk Factors ; Seoul ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Stomach

BACKGROUND: Despite the diagnostic utility of immunophenotyping for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), it has not been widely performed, and reports on this are absent in Korea. We aimed to evaluate the immunophenotypic features of non-blastic granulocytes, monocytes, and blasts in patients with MDS and non-clonal disorders using routine flow cytometry (FCM). Moreover, we evaluated the phenotypic abnormalities of mature cells in leukemic patients. METHODS: Marrow aspirates from 60 patients, including 18 with MDS, 18 with leukemia, and 24 with non-clonal disorders (control group), were analyzed using FCM. Blasts, non-blast myeloid cells, and monocytes were gated based on CD45 expression and side scatter (SSC). The phenotypes were then compared among the 3 groups. RESULTS: Compared to non-clonal disorders, the granulocytic lineages of MDS showed decreased SSC (P=0.005), increased CD45 intensity (P=0.020), decreased CD10-positive granulocytes (P= 0.030), and a higher CD56-positive rate (P=0.005). It is noteworthy that similar results were obtained in the leukemia group, and these findings were not related to the phenotypes of the leukemic cells. Using blast and monocytic gating, useful parameters for generating a differential diagnosis were not found. CONCLUSIONS: Gating the granulocytic region is a relatively easy method for MDS immunophenotyping. Among the parameters studied, SSC, CD10, and CD56 were the most useful for differentiating MDS from non-clonal disorders. While immunophenotypic changes in MDS appear to be useful for differentiating MDS from non-clonal disorders, these changes were also noted in the mature cells of leukemic patients.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antigens, CD45/metabolism ; Antigens, CD56/metabolism ; Bone Marrow Cells/cytology ; Cell Lineage ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Granulocytes/*classification ; Humans ; *Immunophenotyping ; Leukemia/diagnosis/pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Monocytes/*classification ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes/*diagnosis ; Neprilysin/metabolism ; Phenotype

BACKGROUND: Beyond lowering lipids, statins have favorable effects on platelet adhesion, thrombosis, endothelial function, plaque stability and inflammation. The vascular injury from percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) induces platelet activation, thrombosis and inflammation within the vessel wall. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of statin therapy in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients who underwent PCI. METHODS: A total of 254 patients with AMI who underwent PCI between June 2001 and June 2002 at Chonnam National University Hospital were divided into two groups: Group I (n=134, 60.1+/-12.7 years, male 85.1%) who were treated with simvastatin and Group II (n=120, 58.9+/-9.4 years, male 83.3) who were not treated with simvastatin after PCI. RESULTS: The levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol were more decreased and the level of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol was more increased in Group I than in Group II. The levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell, monocyte and fibrinogen were more decreased in Group I than in Group II. There was no significant difference in major adverse cardiac event during hospitalization, but statin therapy was associated with a significant reduction in restenosis rate (19.1% vs 32.6%, p=0.036) and repeat revascularization rate (17.0% vs 30.4%, p=0.031) during one-year clinical follow-up after PCI. The MACE-free survival rate was higher in Group I than in Group II (81.7% vs 62.3%, p=0.001). The independent predictors for MACE one year after PCI were CRP above 0.5 mg/dL, left ventricular ejection fraction less than 40%, old age above 75 years, lesion type B2/C according to the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association classification and statin use (p<0.001, =0.001, 0.002, 0.023, 0.040, respectively). CONCLUSION: Statin therapy after PCI is associated with a reduction in the incidence of restenosis, repeat revascularization and high MACE-free survival during one-year clinical follow-up after PCI in AMI.
Angioplasty ; Blood Platelets ; C-Reactive Protein ; Cholesterol ; Classification ; Fibrinogen ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors* ; Incidence ; Inflammation ; Jeollanam-do ; Leukocytes ; Male ; Monocytes ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention* ; Platelet Activation ; Prognosis ; Simvastatin ; Stroke Volume ; Survival Rate ; Thrombosis ; Triglycerides ; Vascular System Injuries