Objective To explore the safety of mobilization and collection as well as the feasibility of selection of autologous peripheral blood stem cells (auto-PBSC) from patients with juvenile severe autoimmune diseases (AID) for autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT). The clinical significance of these procedure is evaluated. Methods Eight patients with AID, including four patients with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE),two patients with dermatomysoitis, one patient with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), one patient with multiple sclerosis(MS),underwent auto-HSCT. Auto-PBSCs were mobilized in 8 patients using cyclophosphamide(CTX) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), and their PBSCs were collected by CS-3000 Blood Cell Separator, then the CD34+cells were selected and purified by CliniMACS CD34+cell selection device. The CD34+ cells were frozenand preserved under -80 ℃ ALL patients received non-myeloablative or lymphoablative conditioning regimens which consisted of CTX/Mel/ATG or CTX/ATG or BEAM/ATG. All patient received CD34+ cells transplantation. The safety of mobilization and collection process of auto-PBSC as well asthe feasibility of selection and purification of CD34+cells were recorded and hematopoietic reconstruction were evaluated. Results All patients tolerated the collection process well, and there was no mobilization-related mortality. The number of collected MNCs and CD34+ cells were 8.35×108/kg and 7.92×106/kg respectively. The number of CD34+ and CD3+ cells after purification was 6.28×106/kg and0.71 ×105/kg respectively. The mean granulocytes and platelet engraftment occurred on days 11 and 15 after G-CSF regimen, and they can be collected using CS-3000 instrument. PBSC mobilization and collection from patients with juvenile severe AID is safe. The CD34+ cell can be highly purified. The auto-PBSC CD34+cell transplantation is an alternative therapy for severe AIDs that do not respond to conventional treatments.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of combination therapy with methylprednisolone (MP) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on axonal remyelination and functional recovery after spinal cord injury in rats.

METHODSForty-five rats were randomly divided into three groups: Group A received MP and BDNF; group B received MP and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF); and group C received CSF only. Contusion injury to adult rat spinal cord was produced at the T(10) vertebra level followed by immediate intravenous MP or CSF, and was thereafter infused intrathecally with BDNF or CSF for 6 weeks. Axonal remyelination and functional recovery was observed using RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and open field locomotion.

RESULTSAn increase of 28.4% +/- 2.3% in the expression of proteolipid protein (PLP) gene, an endogenous indicator of axonal remyelination, was demonstrated in group A 24 hours after injury. Ten weeks later, there were significant decreases in hematogenous inflammatory cellular infiltration in groups A and B compared to C (P < 0.05). Concomitantly, a significant amount of axonal remyelination was observed in group A compared to groups B and C (P < 0.05). Furthermore, combination therapy using MP and BDNF in group A resulted in stimulation of hindlimb activity as well as improvement in the rate of functional recovery in open field locomotion (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCombined therapy of MP and BDNF can improve functional recovery through mechanisms that include attenuating inflammatory cellular infiltration and enhancing axonal remyelination at the injury site. Such a combination may be an effective approach for treatment of spinal cord injury.

Animals ; Axons ; physiology ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; administration & dosage ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Methylprednisolone ; administration & dosage ; Myelin Proteolipid Protein ; genetics ; Nerve Regeneration ; drug effects ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Recovery of Function ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; physiopathology

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of haplotype hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the treatment of acquired severe aplastic anemia (SAA) in children. Methods: The clinical characteristics of 59 pediatric patients with SAA, including 26 cases VSAA, 37males and 22 females, 47 cases typeⅠ and 12 cases typeⅡ, undrerwent haplo-HSCT in our hospital between December 1^st, 2011 and December 1^st, 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Among 59 patients, 56 patients with a median age of 4.5 (1.2-14.8) years and median weight of 43 (12-80) kg underwent their first HSCT and 3 patients underwent their second HSCT. All patients received the following conditioning regimen: busulfan, cyclophosphamide, and rabbit ATG or Bu (–, CTX) , fludarabineand rabbit ATG. The prophylaxis of acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD) was cyclosporine (CsA) , MMF and methotrexate. All patients received bone marrow transfusion on day 01 and peripheral stem cell transfusion on day 02 from haploid donor. The median dose of donor mononuclear cell counts was 15.60 (7.74-21.04) ×10⁸/kg of recipient weight and CD34⁺ cell counts was 4.86 (3.74-7.14) ×10⁶/kg of recipient weight. Results: Neutrophils and platelets of all 59 children were implanted. The median implantation time of granulocytes and platelets were 13 (10-19) d, 19 (9-62) d, respectively. The incidence of grade Ⅰ-Ⅱ aGVHD was 45.76% (27 cases) and grade Ⅲ/Ⅳ 13.56% (8 cases) , The incidence of chronic GVHD was 8.47% (5 cases) , The incidences of CMV and EBV viremia were 59.32% (35 cases) and 28.81% (17 cases) , respectively. The median follow-up was 30 (8-80) months, 57 patients survived with disease free, 2 patients died of GVHD. Both of the estimated 5-year OS and DFS rates were (96.4±2.5) %. Conclusion Haplo-HSCT could improve the outcomes of SAA children.

BACKGROUNDKeshan disease (KD) is an endemic cardiomyopathy in China. The etiology of KD is still under debate and there is no effective approach to preventing and curing this disease. Young women of child-bearing age are the most frequent victims in rural areas. The aim of this study was to determine the differences between molecular pathogenic mechanisms in male and female KD sufferers.

METHODSWe extracted RNA from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of KD patients (12 women and 4 men) and controls (12 women and 4 men). Then the isolated RNA was amplified, labeled and hybridized to Agilent human 4×44k whole genome microarrays. Gene expression was examined using oligonucleotide microarray analysis. A quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay was also performed to validate our microarray results.

RESULTSAmong the genes differentially expressed in female KD patients we identified: HLA-DOA, HLA-DRA, and HLA-DQA1 associated with spontaneous autoimmunity; BMP5 and BMP7, involved in cardiomyocyte differentiation defect; and ADAMTS 8, CCL23, and TNFSF15, implicated in anti-angiogenic activities. These genes are involved in the canonical pathways and networks recognized for the female KD sufferers and might be related to the pathogenic mechanism of KD.

CONCLUSIONOur results might help to explain the higher susceptibility of women to this disease.

ADAM Proteins ; genetics ; ADAMTS Proteins ; Adult ; Autoimmunity ; genetics ; physiology ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 5 ; genetics ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7 ; genetics ; Cardiomyopathies ; genetics ; pathology ; Cell Differentiation ; genetics ; physiology ; Chemokines, CC ; genetics ; Enterovirus Infections ; genetics ; pathology ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; HLA-D Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-DQ alpha-Chains ; genetics ; HLA-DR alpha-Chains ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; metabolism ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Sex Factors ; Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 15 ; genetics