OBJECTIVE: To observe the expression of helper T cells 17(Th17), interleukin 23 (IL-23) in peripheral blood in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), to analyze the relationship between Th17, IL-23 in peripheral blood and immunophenotype. METHODS: 105 patients with AML in the hospital from January 2019 to January 2021 were prospectively selected as the research subjects, the expression of Th17 and IL-23 in peripheral blood of patients with AML was detected by flow cytometry; immunophenotype was detected and counted. The relationship between the expression of Th17, IL-23 in peripheral blood and immunophenotype of AML patients was analyzed. Draw ROC curve and analyze the predictive value of Th17 and IL-23 expression in peripheral blood to immunophenotype. RESULTS: The immunophenotype results of AML patients showed that myeloid antigen, lymphoid antigen and hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell marker antigen were positive expressed for various antigens in 105 AML patients, in myeloid antigens, CD13⁺ accounted for the highest proportion (93.33%), in lymphoid antigens, CD56⁺ accounted for the highest proportion (32.38%), and in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell marker antigens, CD38⁺ accounted for the highest proportion (68.57%). The expression of Th17 in peripheral blood of AML patients with CD56⁺, CD7⁺, CD34⁺ and human leukocyte antigen DR⁺(HLA-DR⁺) were higher than that of AML patients with CD56^-, CD7^-, CD34^-, HLA-DR^-, the expression of IL-23 in peripheral blood of AML patients with CD56⁺, CD34⁺ and HLA-DR⁺ were higher than that of AML patients with CD56^-, CD34^-, HLA-DR^-, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05); compared the expression of Th17 and IL-23 in peripheral blood between other antibody positive and negative patients, there was no statistical significant difference (P>0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that the high expression of Th17 in patients with AML was related to the positive expression of CD56, CD7, CD34 and HLA-DR in the detection of immunophenotype, the high expression of IL-23 was related to the positive expression of CD56, CD34 and HLA-DR in the detection of immunophenotype. The ROC curve showed that the AUC of expression levels of Th17 and IL-23 in peripheral blood alone and in combination for predicting CD56⁺, CD34⁺, HLA-DR⁺ and Th17 in peripheral blood for predicting CD7⁺ were mostly 0.5-0.7, which had certain predictive value, but the predictive performance was low. CONCLUSION Myeloid antigen, lymphoid antigen and hematopoietic hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell marker antigen are positive expressed for various antigens in AML patients, the high expression of Th17 in peripheral blood of AML patients is related to the positive expression of CD56, CD7, CD34 and HLA-DR in detection of immunophenotyping, the high expression of IL-23 is related to the positive expression of CD56, CD34 and HLA-DR in the detection of immunophenotype.
Antigens, CD34 ; Flow Cytometry/methods* ; HLA-DR Antigens/analysis* ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Interleukin-23 ; Interleukin-23 Subunit p19/blood* ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/genetics* ; Th17 Cells

OBJECTIVE: To establish 10-color fluorescent antibody combination panels for the detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in our laboratory and discuss the value of clinical application. METHODS: According to the antigen expression characteristics of leukemia cells of incipient AML patients, MRD in bone marrow were detected by multiparameter flow cytometry, and the test results were compared with both bone marrow cell morphology and PCR results, then 10-color fluorescent antibody combination panels in our lab for MRD detection was determined. RESULTS: The immunophenotypic characteristics of 392 incipient patients with AML in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were analyzed, among them 357 (91.07%) cases showed abnormal immunophenotypes, which mainly included cross-lineage expression, cross-stage expression, deficiency of antigen expression or abnormal antigen intensity and other abnormal expression. The 10-color fluorescent antibody combination panels established according to abnormal immunophenotypic characteristics of leukemia cells were applied for detecting MRD in 156 patients with AML, the positive rate (43.6%) was higher than 26.8% of morphology, and the results were highly consistent with PCR detection results (96.49%), moreover, the recurrence rate of MRD positive patients (86.96%) was significantly higher than 5.75% of MRD negative patients. Therefore, this method could truly reflect the load of leukemia cells and prompt change of disease condition. CONCLUSION Multiparameter flow cytometry can detect various abnormal immunophenotypes of AML. The 10-color fluorescent antibody combination panels in our lab based on the characteristics of antigens expression in leukemia cells can well detect MRD of leukemia cells, so as to predict relapse and provide basis for clinical treatment.
Bone Marrow ; Flow Cytometry/methods* ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/diagnosis* ; Neoplasm, Residual/diagnosis*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The human Amniotic epithelial cells (AME) derived from amniotic membrane of placenta have been considered as the potential fetal stem cell source with minimal or no ethical concerns and are important therapeutic tool for anti-fibrotic and regenerative therapies. METHODS AND RESULTS: Here, we evaluated the isolation, media screening, scale-up and characterization of AME cells. The isolation, expansion of AMEs were performed by sequential passaging and growth kinetics studies. The AMEs were characterized using immunocytochemistry, immunophenotyping, In-vitro differentiation, and anti-fibrotic assays. The growth kinetics study revealed that the AME cultured in Ultraculture (UC) and DMEM knockout (DMEM-KO) have prominently higher growth rate compared to others. Overall, the AMEs cultured from 5 different media retained basic morphological characteristics and the functional characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Our result suggests that the AMEs can be successfully cultured in UC based complete media without losing its epithelial cell characteristics even after passaging for passage 2 (P2). However, a careful and methodical pre-clinical and clinical translation studies need to be conducted to show its safety and efficacy.
Amnion ; Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy ; Cryopreservation ; Epithelial Cells ; Fetal Stem Cells ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Immunophenotyping ; Kinetics ; Mass Screening ; Methods ; Placenta ; Tissue Engineering

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stem cells that can be isolated from umbilical cords and are therapeutically used because of their ability to differentiate into various types of cells, in addition to their immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory properties. Fetal bovine serum (FBS), considered as the standard additive when isolating and culturing MSCs, has a major limitation related to its animal origin. Here, we employed a simple and economically efficient protocol to isolate MSCs from human umbilical cord tissues without using digestive enzymes and replacing FBS with umbilical cord blood serum (CBS). METHODS AND RESULTS: MSCs were isolated by culturing umbilical cord pieces in CBS or FBS supplemented media. Expansion and proliferation kinetics of cells isolated by explant method in the presence of either FBS or CBS were measured, with morphology and multi-differentiation potential of expanded cells characterized by flow cytometry, RT-PCR, and immunofluorescence. MSCs maintained morphology, immunophenotyping, multi-differentiation potential, and self-renewal ability, with better proliferation rates for cells cultured in CBS compared to FBS supplement media. CONCLUSIONS: We here present a simple, reliable and efficient method to isolate MSCs from umbilical cord tissues, where cells maintained proliferation, differentiation potential and immunophenotyping properties and could be efficiently expanded for clinical applications.
Animals ; Fetal Blood* ; Flow Cytometry ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans* ; Immunophenotyping ; Kinetics ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells* ; Methods* ; Multipotent Stem Cells ; Umbilical Cord*

The current cytomegalovirus (CMV) prevention strategies in solid organ transplantation (SOT) recipients have contributed towards overcoming the detrimental effects caused by CMV lytic infection, and improving the long-term success rate of graft survival. Although the quantification of CMV in peripheral blood is the standard method, and an excellent end-point for diagnosing CMV replication and modulating the anti-CMV prevention strategies in SOT recipients, a novel biomarker mimicking the CMV control mechanism is required. CMV-specific immune monitoring can be employed as a basic tool predicting CMV infection or disease after SOT, since uncontrolled CMV replication mostly originates from the impairment of immune responses against CMV under immunosuppressive conditions in SOT recipients. Several studies conducted during the past few decades have indicated the possibility of measuring the CMV-specific cell-mediated immune response in clinical situations. Among several analytical assays, the most advancing standardized tool is the QuantiFERON®-CMV assay. The T-Track® CMV kit that uses the standardized enzyme-linked immunospot assay is also widely employed. In addition to these assays, immunophenotyping and intracellular cytokine analysis using flow cytometry (with fluorescence-labeled monoclonal antibodies or peptide-major histocompatibility complex multimers) needs to be adequately standardized and validated for potential clinical applications.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Cytomegalovirus* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay ; Flow Cytometry ; Graft Survival ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunophenotyping ; Major Histocompatibility Complex ; Methods ; Monitoring, Immunologic ; Organ Transplantation* ; Transplants*

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical manifestation, pathologic features and immunophenotype of histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (HNL).

METHODSThe clinicopathologic data of 84 patients with HNL from 2005 to 2014 were retrospectively studied. Immunohistochemical staining using EliVision method for CD20, PAX5, CD3, CD45RO, CD4, CD8, CD56, CD68, CD123, granzyme-B, TIA1 and MPO was carried out. In-situ hybridization for Epstein-Barr virus RNA was performed on archival lymph node biopsy tissue.

RESULTSImmunohistochemical study showed that the lesional cells were predominantly histiocytes (CD68+), plasmacytoid dendritic cells (CD123+) and T lymphocytes (CD3+ and CD45RO+). Clusters of CD68-positive cells with strong and diffuse MPO expression were identified. T lymphocytes with CD4 and CD8 positivity were noted. CD56+ natural killer cells and CD20+/PAX5 B cells were rare. Apoptosis-related markers, including TIA1 and granzyme B were expressed by T lymphocytes and histiocytes in lymph nodes of HNL. In-situ hybridization for Epstein-Barr virus RNA was positive in only 10.0% of the cases.

CONCLUSIONSHNL shows no specific clinical and laboratory findings. Recognition of the characteristic histopathologic changes in lymph node biopsy of HNL is the key to correct diagnosis. Immunohistochemical study using a panel of markers, including CD3, CD4, CD8, MPO, CD123, granzyme-B and TIA1, is helpful in the differential diagnosis of HNL.

Antigens, CD ; analysis ; Biomarkers ; Dendritic Cells ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Granzymes ; analysis ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; genetics ; Histiocytes ; pathology ; Histiocytic Necrotizing Lymphadenitis ; complications ; immunology ; pathology ; virology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Immunophenotyping ; In Situ Hybridization ; methods ; Lymph Nodes ; RNA, Viral ; analysis ; Retrospective Studies ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; pathology

Recently, gingival margin-derived stem/progenitor cells isolated via STRO-1/magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) showed remarkable periodontal regenerative potential in vivo. As a second-stage investigation, the present study's aim was to perform in vitro characterisation and comparison of the stem/progenitor cell characteristics of sorted STRO-1-positive (MACS⁺) and STRO-1-negative (MACS⁻) cell populations from the human free gingival margin. Cells were isolated from the free gingiva using a minimally invasive technique and were magnetically sorted using anti-STRO-1 antibodies. Subsequently, the MACS⁺ and MACS⁻ cell fractions were characterized by flow cytometry for expression of CD14, CD34, CD45, CD73, CD90, CD105, CD146/MUC18 and STRO-1. Colony-forming unit (CFU) and multilineage differentiation potential were assayed for both cell fractions. Mineralisation marker expression was examined using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). MACS⁺ and MACS(-) cell fractions showed plastic adherence. MACS⁺ cells, in contrast to MACS⁻ cells, showed all of the predefined mesenchymal stem/progenitor cell characteristics and a significantly higher number of CFUs (P<0.01). More than 95% of MACS⁺ cells expressed CD105, CD90 and CD73; lacked the haematopoietic markers CD45, CD34 and CD14, and expressed STRO-1 and CD146/MUC18. MACS⁻ cells showed a different surface marker expression profile, with almost no expression of CD14 or STRO-1, and more than 95% of these cells expressed CD73, CD90 and CD146/MUC18, as well as the haematopoietic markers CD34 and CD45 and CD105. MACS⁺ cells could be differentiated along osteoblastic, adipocytic and chondroblastic lineages. In contrast, MACS⁻ cells demonstrated slight osteogenic potential. Unstimulated MACS⁺ cells showed significantly higher expression of collagen I (P<0.05) and collagen III (P<0.01), whereas MACS⁻ cells demonstrated higher expression of osteonectin (P<0.05; Mann-Whitney). The present study is the first to compare gingival MACS⁺ and MACS⁻ cell populations demonstrating that MACS⁺ cells, in contrast to MACS⁻ cells, harbour stem/progenitor cell characteristics. This study also validates the effectiveness of the STRO-1/MACS⁺ technique for the isolation of gingival stem/progenitor cells. Human free gingival margin-derived STRO-1/MACS⁺ cells are a unique renewable source of multipotent stem/progenitor cells.
Base Sequence ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Lineage ; Cells, Cultured ; DNA Primers ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gingiva ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunomagnetic Separation ; methods ; Immunophenotyping ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo explore the immunophenotypic characteristics of CD5⁺ B cell lymphoproliferative disorders (B-LPD) of Chinese patients.

METHODSImmunophenotyping of bone marrow and (or) of peripheral blood was performed in patients with B-LPD by four color multiparameter flow cytometry analysis using a panel of monoclonal antibodies, and the patients clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. The difference in immunophenotypes and the related clinical features were retrospectively analyzed. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for t(11;14) detection was applied to diagnose or exclude mantle cell lymphoma.

RESULTS(1)A total 260 CD5⁺ B-LPD patients were enrolled in this study, including 186 chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), 40 mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), other B-LPD including 5 splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL), 2 B-cell prolymphocytic leukemia (B-PLL), 3 hairy cell leukemia (HCL). The other 26 cases (10%)were not classified and defined as unclassified B-LPD (BLPD-U). MCL patients were all positive for t(11;14) detected by FISH, while all the BLPD-U patients were negative for t(11;14). (2) All patients expressed CD19, CD20 and CD5. According to the immunophenotypic score system, 186 CLL patients scored 4-5, 99.5% of patients with CD23⁺, 11.3% with sIgM⁺, 10.2% with FMC7⁺, 44.1% with CD22⁺ and 51.1% with CD11c⁺. MCL patients scored 2-3, with 50% expressing CD23 and sIgM, 81.6% expressing FMC7, 92.1% expressing CD22 and 5.3% expressing CD11c. In aspect of BLPD-U and other B-LPD, the expression of CD23, sIgM, FMC7, CD22 and CD11c were 73.1% and 50%, 34.6% and 50%, 88.5% and 100%, 92.3% and 90%, 69.2% and 70%, respectively. (3)In comparison of CLL with MCL, there was a significant difference in the expression of CD23, sIgM, FMC7, CD22 and CD11c between the two groups (P<0.01). Between MCL and BLPD-U, similar expression type of CD23, sIgM, FMC7 and CD22 was found except CD11c, which was highly expressed in BLPD-U (P<0.001). The difference of CD11c expression was also statistically significant between MCL and other B-LPD (P<0.01). In comparison of MCL with other B-LPD, there was a significant difference in the expression of CD11c (P<0.01). The expression of CD23 and sIgM in MCL are 7%-21% and 82%-100% respectively in Western population, while the expression of other immunophenotypic markers is similar with our study.

CONCLUSIONThe significant high incidence of CD23 and low incidence of sIgM compared to the Western population was observed in Chinese patients, and CD11c coud serve as a useful marker to distinguish MCL from CLL and other CD5⁺ B-LPD.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cell Count ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; methods ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell ; immunology ; Lymphoma, Mantle-Cell ; immunology ; Lymphoproliferative Disorders ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

This study was aimed to distinguish abnormal cells and to diagnose hematologic diseases through recognizing antigen expression pattern and percentage of peripheral blood cells in normal elderly men. Antigen expression of blast cells, granulocytes, monocytes, lymphocytes, nucleated red blood cells and plasma cells was detected by seven-color flow cytometry in a total of 88 peripheral blood samples from normal elderly men, aged median 82 years old, from 70 to 98 years. Groups were divided according to age, region and underlying diseases, and the percentages of different subgroup cells were examined to confirm whether the differences were significant or not. The results showed that the median proportion of CD34(+) blast cells in peripheral blood from normal elderly men were 0.017% (0.015%-0.020%), with high expression of HLA-DR, CD33, CD13 and CD117, low expression of myeloid antigens, such as CD15, CD11b and CD16, while lymphoid antigens were seldom positive, including CD7, CD19 and CD56. Dim-expression of CD38 was found in peripheral blood blast cells, CD38(dim)+/- cell percentage in blast cells was 61.36% ± 18.26%. In the differentiation and development of granulocytes, CD16(-), CD13(+) CD16(+) (intermediate) and CD16(+) (strong) CD13(+) cells appeared in sequence from immature to mature granulocytes, whose median proportions in nuclear cells were 0.04%, 0.30% and 61.30%, respectively. The percentages of immature monocytes, such as CD64(+) CD14(-) and HLA-DR(+) CD11b(-) cells, were from 0.00% to 0.10% and from 0.07% to 0.68%, separately. No significant differences were found between different subgroups (P > 0.05). It is concluded that the immunophenotypic characteristics and referential percentages of CD34(+) blast cells, granulocytes and monocytes with different development stages in peripheral blood from normal elderly men are recognized, which can help to discriminate abnormal cells.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Blood Cells ; immunology ; Flow Cytometry ; methods ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Leukocyte Count ; Male

This study was aimed to evaluate an effective and stable method for obtaining mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) from the rabbit bone marrow and to investigate the biological characteristics of MSC and EPC. Mononuclear cells were obtained from rabbit bone marrow using density gradient method, and were differentially adhered to the cell culture plate enclosed with fibronectin. Then, MSC and EPC were amplified with EGB-2MV medium. Trypan blue method was used to test the passage survival rate. Growth curve, MTT and DNA cycle were used to evaluate the proliferation ability of MSC and EPC. MSC were identified with induced differentiation into the osteoblasts and adipocytes, and their immune phenotype was detected by flow cytometry (FCM). EPC were characterized by the special digestion of Dil-ac-LDL, FITC-UEA-I, and the conjunction with CD133, VEGFR2/KDR and CD34, their purity was also calculated. The results indicated that the colony was obviously formed when the mononuclear cells were cultured for 24 hours and, 80% of the cells became long spindle and integrated at d 8. Cells, which were adhered for twice, were cultured with EGM-2MV medium, began to extend at d 3, and became strip-shaped and integrated for about 80% at d 8. Passage survival rates were more than 90% for both cells, and after passage 2 the growth curve was like "S". Optical density was changed obviously when the cells were cultured for 3 - 5 d, but there were no significant difference of cell cycles between MSC and EPC, which G0-G1 was (93.32 ± 1.65)% and (93.05 ± 1.95)% respectively. Positive rates were (99.7 ± 1.12)%, (99.1 ± 2.33)%, (4.8 ± 0.38)%, (6.8 ± 0.49)% and (0.4 ± 0.08)% for CD90, CD44, CD14, CD45 and CD79a respectively. MSC were identified by induced differentiation into osteoblasts and adipocytes. Positive rates of the EPC, which were adhered for twice and passaged 2, were (82.1 ± 3.4)% for fluorescent staining of Dil-ac-LDL and FITC-UEA-I, and (74.2 ± 3.2)%, (64.7 ± 4.3)% and (43.5 ± 1.5)% for CD133, VEGFR2/KDR and CD34 respectively. It is concluded that high-purity MSC can be obtained with density gradient and differential adhesion method, and high-proliferation EPC can be cultured with EGM-2MV medium in cell plates enclosed with fibronectin, so they may become the optimal seed cells for tissue engineering study.
Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Adhesion ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Separation ; methods ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Flow Cytometry ; Immunophenotyping ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Rabbits ; Stem Cells ; cytology