BACKGROUND: Several studies have demonstrated the occurrence of secondary tumors as a rare but significant complication of chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy, underscoring the need for a detailed investigation. Given the limited variety of secondary tumor types reported to date, a comprehensive characterization of the various secondary tumors arising after CAR-T therapy is essential to understand the associated risks and to define the role of the immune microenvironment in malignant transformation. This study aims to characterize the immune microenvironment of a newly identified secondary tumor post-CAR-T therapy, to clarify its pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets. METHODS: In this study, the bone marrow (BM) samples were collected by aspiration from the primary and secondary tumors before and after CD19 CAR-T treatment. The CD45 + BM cells were enriched with human CD45 microbeads. The CD45 + cells were then sent for 10× genomics single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to identify cell populations. The Cell Ranger pipeline and CellChat were used for detailed analysis. RESULTS: In this study, a rare type of secondary chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) were reported in a patient with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who had previously received CD19 CAR-T therapy. The scRNA-seq analysis revealed increased inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and an immunosuppressive state of monocytes/macrophages, which may impair cytotoxic activity in both T and natural killer (NK) cells in secondary CMML before treatment. In contrast, their cytotoxicity was restored in secondary CMML after treatment. CONCLUSIONS This finding delineates a previously unrecognized type of secondary tumor, CMML, after CAR-T therapy and provide a framework for defining the immune microenvironment of secondary tumor occurrence after CAR-T therapy. In addition, the results provide a rationale for targeting macrophages to improve treatment strategies for CMML treatment.
Humans ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/therapy* ; Tumor Microenvironment/genetics* ; Antigens, CD19/metabolism* ; Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Chronic/genetics* ; Immunotherapy, Adoptive/adverse effects* ; Male ; Single-Cell Analysis/methods* ; Female ; Sequence Analysis, RNA/methods* ; Receptors, Chimeric Antigen ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVE: To explore the application of targeted mRNA sequencing in fusion gene diagnosis of hematologic diseases. METHODS: Bone marrow or peripheral blood samples of 105 patients with abnormally elevated eosinophil proportions and 291 acute leukemia patients from January 2015 to June 2023 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University were analyzed and gene structural variants were detected by targeted mRNA sequencing. RESULTS: Among 105 patients with abnormally elevated eosinophil proportions, 6 cases were detected with gene structural variants, among which fusion gene testing results in 5 cases could serve as diagnostic indicators for myeloid neoplasms with eosinophilia. In addition, a IL3∷ETV6 fusion gene was detected in one patient with chronic eosinophilic leukemia, not otherwise specified. Among 119 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), 38 cases were detected structural variants by targeted mRNA sequencing, accounting for 31.9%, which was significantly higher than 20.2% (24/119) detected by multiple quantitative PCR (P < 0.05). We also found one patient with AML had both NUP98∷PRRX2 and KCTD5∷JAK2 fusion genes. A total of 104 patients were detected structural variants by targeted mRNA sequencing in 172 cases with acute B-lymphoblastic leukemia who were tested negative by multiple quantitative PCR, with a detection rate of 60.5% (102/172). CONCLUSION Targeted mRNA sequencing can effectively detect fusion gene and has potential clinical application value in diagnosis and classificatation in hematologic diseases.
Humans ; Hematologic Diseases/diagnosis* ; RNA, Messenger/genetics* ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/genetics* ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/diagnosis*

Objective To explore the biomarkers and potential mechanisms of chronic restraint stress-induced myocardial injury in hyperlipidemia ApoE-/-mice.Methods The hyperlipidemia combined with the chronic stress model was established by restraining the ApoE-/-mice.Proteomics and bioinformatics techniques were used to describe the characteristic molecular changes and related regulatory mechanisms of chronic stress-induced myocardial injury in hyperlipidemia mice and to explore potential diagnostic biomarkers.Results Proteomic analysis showed that there were 43 significantly up-regulated and 58 sig-nificantly down-regulated differentially expressed proteins in hyperlipidemia combined with the restraint stress group compared with the hyperlipidemia group.Among them,GBP2,TAOK3,TFR1 and UCP1 were biomarkers with great diagnostic potential.KEGG pathway enrichment analysis indicated that fer-roptosis was a significant pathway that accelerated the myocardial injury in hyperlipidemia combined with restraint stress-induced model.The mmu_circ_0001567/miR-7a/Tfr-1 and mmu_circ_0001042/miR-7a/Tfr-1 might be important circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks related to ferroptosis in this model.Conclusion Chronic restraint stress may aggravate myocardial injury in hyperlipidemia mice via ferrop-tosis.Four potential biomarkers are selected for myocardial injury diagnosis,providing a new direction for sudden cardiac death(SCD)caused by hyperlipidemia combined with the restraint stress.

Objective Recombinase-aided polymerase chain reaction(RAP)is a sensitive,single-tube,two-stage nucleic acid amplification method.This study aimed to develop an assay that can be used for the early diagnosis of three types of bacteremia caused by Staphylococcus aureus(SA),Pseudomonas aeruginosa(PA),and Acinetobacter baumannii(AB)in the bloodstream based on recombinant human mannan-binding lectin protein(M1 protein)-conjugated magnetic bead(M1 bead)enrichment of pathogens combined with RAP. Methods Recombinant plasmids were used to evaluate the assay sensitivity.Common blood influenza bacteria were used for the specific detection.Simulated and clinical plasma samples were enriched with M1 beads and then subjected to multiple recombinase-aided PCR(M-RAP)and quantitative PCR(qPCR)assays.Kappa analysis was used to evaluate the consistency between the two assays. Results The M-RAP method had sensitivity rates of 1,10,and 1 copies/μL for the detection of SA,PA,and AB plasmids,respectively,without cross-reaction to other bacterial species.The M-RAP assay obtained results for<10 CFU/mL pathogens in the blood within 4 h,with higher sensitivity than qPCR.M-RAP and qPCR for SA,PA,and AB yielded Kappa values of 0.839,0.815,and 0.856,respectively(P<0.05). Conclusion An M-RAP assay for SA,PA,and AB in blood samples utilizing M1 bead enrichment has been developed and can be potentially used for the early detection of bacteremia.

Objective To investigate the microstructural changes of temporal lobe epilepsy(TLE)in patients with sleep disorders based on diffusion kurtosis imaging(DKI).Methods This research prospectively included 38 TLE patients(case group)and 20 healthy controls(HC)(HC group).Participants used sleep questionnaires to evaluate their sleep status.All TLE patients were divided into groups with and without sleep disorders according to the diagnostic criteria and scale scores of sleep disorders.The mean kurtosis(MK),mean diffusivity(MD),and fractional anisotropy(FA)of the relevant region of interest(ROI)were measured by DKI sequence.The differences of sleep quality scores and DKI parameters between groups were further compared via independent samples t-test and one-way analysis of variance.Results The Epworth sleepiness scale(ESS),Athens insomnia scale(AIS),and Pittsburgh sleep qual-ity index(PSQI)scores of TLE patients with sleep disorders were significantly higher than those of HC group(P＜0.05).The FA and MK values in TLE patients were significantly lower than those in HC group,while the MD value of TLE patients were substan-tially higher than that of HC group(P＜0.05).The values of MK and FA in left TLE patients with sleep disorders were significantly lower than those of without sleep disorders(P＜0.05),while there was no significant difference in MD value between the two groups(P＞0.05).MK value of right TLE patients with sleep disor-ders was significantly lower than that of without sleep disorders(P＜0.05),however,there were no significant differences in MD and FA values between the two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion Quantitative DKI analysis revealed differences in DKI parameters in TLE patients combined with sleep disorders,inferring a specific white matter fiber damage in this group and providing imaging data to support the personalized treatment and prognostic assessment of these patients.

Objective To investigate the incidence rate,clinical characteristics,and prognosis of neonatal stroke in Shenzhen,China.Methods Led by Shenzhen Children's Hospital,the Shenzhen Neonatal Data Collaboration Network organized 21 institutions to collect 36 cases of neonatal stroke from January 2020 to December 2022.The incidence,clinical characteristics,treatment,and prognosis of neonatal stroke in Shenzhen were analyzed.Results The incidence rate of neonatal stroke in 21 hospitals from 2020 to 2022 was 1/15 137,1/6 060,and 1/7 704,respectively.Ischemic stroke accounted for 75％(27/36);boys accounted for 64％(23/36).Among the 36 neonates,31(86％)had disease onset within 3 days after birth,and 19(53％)had convulsion as the initial presentation.Cerebral MRI showed that 22 neonates(61％)had left cerebral infarction and 13(36％)had basal ganglia infarction.Magnetic resonance angiography was performed for 12 neonates,among whom 9(75％)had involvement of the middle cerebral artery.Electroencephalography was performed for 29 neonates,with sharp waves in 21 neonates(72％)and seizures in 10 neonates(34％).Symptomatic/supportive treatment varied across different hospitals.Neonatal Behavioral Neurological Assessment was performed for 12 neonates(33％,12/36),with a mean score of(32±4)points.The prognosis of 27 neonates was followed up to around 12 months of age,with 44％(12/27)of the neonates having a good prognosis.Conclusions Ischemic stroke is the main type of neonatal stroke,often with convulsions as the initial presentation,involvement of the middle cerebral artery,sharp waves on electroencephalography,and a relatively low neurodevelopment score.Symptomatic/supportive treatment is the main treatment method,and some neonates tend to have a poor prognosis.

Objective The rabbit knee osteoarthritis(KOA)model was established by simple anterior cruciate ligament disruption.Methods The selected 40 adult white rabbits were randomly divided into two groups,blank group with 6 rabbits and model group with 34 rabbits.The rabbits in model group were given the disruption of anterior cruciate ligament of right knee joint.In the fourth,eighth and the twelfth weeks of modeling,different degrees of degenerative changes have been ob-served on the rabbits articular cartilages from both macroscopic and microscopic aspects.Results At 4,8 and 12 weeks after modeling,the articular cartilage of the rabbits in the model group showed degenerative changes in different degrees.At 8 and 12 weeks,the typical pathological manifestations of KOA in the middle and late stages were found in the infrapatellar fat pad and synovium,respectively.There were no changes in articular cartilage,infrapatellar fat pad and synovial membrane in the blank group at the same time.There were significant differences in the gross score between the model group and the blank group at 4 weeks[(1.300±0.674)vs 0.000],8 weeks[(2.400±0.516)vs 0.000]and 12 weeks[(3.583±0.668)vs 0.000](P＜0.05),the histopathological scores were significantly different,at 4 weeks[(2.900±0.567)vs 0.000],8 weeks[(7.500±1.178)vs(0.500±0.707)],12 weeks[(11.833±1.337)vs(1.500±0.707)],(P＜0.05).Conclusion The establishment of rabbit knee arthritis model by simply cutting the anterior cruciate ligament is simple and feasible,with good stability,high success rate,small trauma,short modeling cycle and less changes in animal physiological structure.The rabbit knee arthritis model es-tablished by simply cutting the anterior cruciate ligament has good modeling effect on different stages and grades of knee os-teoarthritis,and the postoperative infection and trauma can be controlled,which can meet the test requirements.

Objective To investigate the predictive value of combined plasma gluconic acid(GA),fumaric acid(FA),and pseudouridine levels at admission for acute kidney injury(AKI)in elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI).Methods A total of 78 elderly AMI patients transferred from Emergency Department to Coronary Care Unit in Fuwai Hospital during Decem-ber 2021 and July 2022 were enrolled in this prospective study.They were divided into AKI group(40 cases)and non-AKI group(38 cases)according to whether they developed AKI during hospi-talization.Plasma levels of GA,FA and pseudouridine were quantitatively detected with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.ROC curve was plotted to assess the predictive value of these three plasma metabolites for AKI in AMI patients.Multivariate logistic regression analy-sis was applied to analyze the clinical risk factors for AKI.Results There were no statistical differences in the plasma levels of GA,FA and pseudouridine between the AKI group and the non-AKI group(P＞0.05).ROC curve analysis revealed that the plasma levels of the three indicators had no predictive value for the development of AKI in elderly AMI patients(AUC=0.576,95％CI:0.449-0.704,P=0.246;AUC=0.595,95％CI:0.467--0.721,P=0.154;AUC=0.563,95％CI:0.435-0.692,P=0.337).Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that left ventricu-lar ejection fraction(LVEF)was an independent predictor for AKI development in elderly AMI patients(OR=0.923,95％CI:0.870-0.978,P=0.007).Conclusion Plasma GA,FA and pseud-ouridine cannot predict the development of AKI in elderly AMI patients,while,LVEF is an inde-pendent predictor for the development.

Background: The emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 omicron variant has been triggering the new wave of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) globally. However, the risk factors and outcomes for radiological abnormalities in the early convalescent stage (1 month after diagnosis) of omicron infected patients are still unknown. Methods: Patients were retrospectively enrolled if they were admitted to the hospital due to COVID-19. The chest computed tomography (CT) images and clinical data obtained at baseline (at the time of the first CT image that showed abnormalities after diagnosis) and 1 month after diagnosis were longitudinally analyzed. Uni-/multi-variable logistic regression tests were performed to explore independent risk factors for radiological abnormalities at baseline and residual pulmonary abnormalities after 1 month. Results: We assessed 316 COVID-19 patients, including 47% with radiological abnormalities at baseline and 23% with residual pulmonary abnormalities at 1-month follow-up. In a multivariate regression analysis, age ≥ 50 years, body mass index ≥ 23.87, days after vaccination ≥ 81 days, lymphocyte count ≤ 1.21 × 10 -9 /L, interleukin-6 (IL-6) ≥ 10.05 pg/mL and IgG ≤ 14.140 S/CO were independent risk factors for CT abnormalities at baseline. The age ≥ 47 years, presence of interlobular septal thickening and IL-6 ≥ 5.85 pg/mL were the independent risk factors for residual pulmonary abnormalities at 1-month follow-up. For residual abnormalities group, the patients with less consolidations and more parenchymal bands at baseline could progress on CT score after 1 month. There were no significant changes in the number of involved lung lobes and total CT score during the early convalescent stage. Conclusion The higher IL-6 level was a common independent risk factor for CT abnormalities at baseline and residual pulmonary abnormalities at 1-month follow-up. There were no obvious radiographic changes during the early convalescent stage in patients with residual pulmonary abnormalities.

OX40 is a costimulatory receptor that is expressed primarily on activated CD4⁺, CD8⁺, and regulatory T cells. The ligation of OX40 to its sole ligand OX40L potentiates T cell expansion, differentiation, and activation and also promotes dendritic cells to mature to enhance their cytokine production. Therefore, the use of agonistic anti-OX40 antibodies for cancer immunotherapy has gained great interest. However, most of the agonistic anti-OX40 antibodies in the clinic are OX40L-competitive and show limited efficacy. Here, we discovered that BGB-A445, a non-ligand-competitive agonistic anti-OX40 antibody currently under clinical investigation, induced optimal T cell activation without impairing dendritic cell function. In addition, BGB-A445 dose-dependently and significantly depleted regulatory T cells in vitro and in vivo via antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. In the MC38 syngeneic model established in humanized OX40 knock-in mice, BGB-A445 demonstrated robust and dose-dependent antitumor efficacy, whereas the ligand-competitive anti-OX40 antibody showed antitumor efficacy characterized by a hook effect. Furthermore, BGB-A445 demonstrated a strong combination antitumor effect with an anti-PD-1 antibody. Taken together, our findings show that BGB-A445, which does not block OX40-OX40L interaction in contrast to clinical-stage anti-OX40 antibodies, shows superior immune-stimulating effects and antitumor efficacy and thus warrants further clinical investigation.
Mice ; Animals ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor/physiology* ; Receptors, OX40 ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; Ligands ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/pharmacology* ; Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology*