Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy is a novel cellular immunotherapy that is widely used to treat hematological malignancies, including acute leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. Despite its remarkable clinical effects, this therapy has side effects that cannot be underestimated. Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) is one of the most clinically important and potentially life-threatening toxicities. This syndrome is a systemic immune storm that involves the mass cytokines releasing by activated immune cells. This phenomenon causes multisystem damages and sometimes even death. In this study, we reported the management of a patient with recurrent and refractory multiple myeloma and three patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia who suffered CRS during CAR-T treatment. The early application of tocilizumab, an anti-IL-6 receptor antibody, according to toxicity grading and clinical manifestation is recommended especially for patients who suffer continuous hyperpyrexia, hypotensive shock, acute respiratory failure, and whose CRS toxicities deteriorated rapidly. Moreover, low doses of dexamethasone (5-10 mg/day) were used for refractory CRS not responding to tocilizumab. The effective management of the toxicities associated with CRS will bring additional survival opportunities and improve the quality of life for patients with cancer.

Objective To screen the optimal RNA interference sequence of acute monocytic leukemia associated antigen 22 (MLAA-22) gene in order to study gene function of it. Methods MLAA-22 coding sequence (CDS) was cloned by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and the CDS was inserted in to pEGFP-N1-3FLAG vector to construct eukaryotic expression vector of MLAA-22. At the same time, four RNA interference sequences were designed and cloned to the vector. Expression vector and RNA interference vector were co-transfected into 293T cells, and the optimal RNA interference sequence was screened by fluorescence and Western blot analyses. Results MLAA-22 eukaryotic expression vector pEGFP-N1-3FLAG and four RNA interference vectors were successfully constructed. After co-transfected 293T cells, KD2 was selected as the optimal interference sequence of MLAA-22. Conclusion KD2 is an optimal interference sequence for targeting MLAA-22 antigen gene.

Our previous study demonstrated that human KIAA0100 gene is a novel acute monocytic leukemia-associated antigen (MLAA) gene. But the functional characterization of human KIAA0100 gene has remained unknown to date. Here, firstly, bioinformatic prediction of human KIAA0100 gene was carried out using online software;Secondly, human KIAA0100 gene expression was downregulated by the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated (Cas) 9 system in U937 cells. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were next evaluated in KIAA0100-knockdown U937 cells. The bioinformatic prediction showed that human KIAA0100 gene was located on 17q11.2, and human KIAA0100 protein was located in the secretory pathway. Besides, human KIAA0100 protein contained a signal peptide, a transmembrane region, three types of secondary structures (alpha helix, extended strand, and random coil) , and four domains from mitochondrial protein 27 (FMP27). The observation on functional characterization of human KIAA0100 gene revealed that its downregulation inhibited cell proliferation, and promoted cell apoptosis in U937 cells. To summarize, these results suggest human KIAA0100 gene possibly comes within mitochondrial genome; moreover, it is a novel anti-apoptotic factor related to carcinogenesis or progression in acute monocytic leukemia, and may be a potential target for immunotherapy against acute monocytic leukemia.

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) are important tools for the study of proteins′ function and structure. But there has been no report on the preparation of MAbs against human KIAA0100 protein up to date. Here, first, we generated the mouse MAb against human KIAA0100 protein using purified recombinant 6×Histidinc (6×His)- tagged human KIAA0100 protein segment (1557–2234) as an antigen; then, the mRNA expression of human KIAA0100 gene was detected in U937 cells using Northern blot analysis. The results showed that the mouse MAb against human KIAA0100 protein could sensitively recognize the human KIAA0100 protein using Western blot analysis and immunocytochemistry analysis. Besides, Western blot analysis revealed that human KIAA0100 gene possibly encoded two different protein products (254 kDa and < 250 kDa) in U937 cells. Moreover, Northern blot analysis confirmed that human KIAA0100 gene might produced two different mRNA products (6000–10000 bp and 5000–6000 bp) in U937 cells. The results provide a basis for large-scale production of the MAb against human KIAA0100 protein, which will be useful for the study of human KIAA0100 protein′s function/structure and MAb-targeted drugs in the future.

ABSTRACT:Objective To detect the expressions of thioredoxin (TRX1)and c-jun-activation-domain binding protein-1 (JAB1)in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)and healthy controls,and measure the TRX1 level in AML patients at different stages for evaluating its clinical significance.Methods The expressions of TRX1 and JAB1 in leukemia samples were analyzed by RT-PCR and Western blot at mRNA and protein levels, respectively.The correlation between TRX1 and JAB1,and the relationship between the gene expression and peripheral blood leukocytes count were also analyzed.Furthermore,serum TRX1 was measured by ELISA.Results TRX1 and JAB1 expressions at both mRNA and protein levels were obviously upregulated in leukemia patients (P<0.05). TRX1 was positively related to JAB1 in both newly diagnosed and recurrent AML patients.And high levels of TRX1 and JAB1 expressions were associated with white blood cell (WBC)counts in AML patients (P<0.05).Moreover, abundance of TRX1 in serum was significantly greater in AML patients,especially in the patients with recurrent AML,than in healthy donors (P<0.05).Conclusion There is a positive correlation between the expressions of TRX1 and JAB1 ,which is closely related to the occurrence and progression of AML.

Objective To investigate the relationship of acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD) and the regulatory T (Treg) cells,NK cells as well as their function-related cytokines such as IL-10,TGF-β,and perforin in mice with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.Methods H-2 completely mismatched C57BL/6→ BALB/c aGVHD mice model was constructed.Flow cytometry analysis was used to detect the proportion of CD4+CD25 + Treg cells and NK-1.1+ NK cells in the spleen of aGVHD mice after transplantation.ELISA method was used to detect the serum levels of IL-10,TGF-β and perforin in the aGVHD mice intervened with CSA prophylactic or not.The normal C57BL/6 mice were used as controls.Results Compared with those of normal mice,the proportion of Treg cells in aGVHD mice after transplantation was decreased (mean 3.6％ vs.1.55％) and the proportion of NK cells increased (mean 3.3％ vs.11.5％).In the aGVHD mice treated with cyclosporine A,serum IL-10 expression level was significantly increased (treated group (125.79 ± 0.27)pg/mL,untreated group [(103.09 ± 3.27)pg/mL,P＜0.01)],TGF-β expression level was increased [(252.05 ±7.84)pg/mL vs.(241.61±15.41)pg/mL,P＞0.05],perforin expression level was significantly increased [(186.97 ± 4.68)pg/mL vs.(144.35 ± 14.42)pg/mL,P＜0.01].Conclusion ① The occurrence of aGVHD is correlated with the decreased number of Tree cells after transplantation in mice.Treg cell function-related cytokines IL-10 and TGF-β are involved in the treatment of aGVHD by cyclosporine A-mediated immunosuppression.②NK cells are involved in the occurrence of aGVHD after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation,and the increased level of perforin is related to the inhibition of aGVHD.

Objective To make the chromosome karyotype analysis of 130 patients with leukemia by using the improved chromosome short-term culture method.Methods We optimized the main factors with a single factor gradient experiment in short-term culture of bone marrow chromosome, including colchicines concentration, duration of action of colchicines,and hypotonic time.On this basis,we conducted the three-factors and three-level orthogonal experiment to achieve improved bone marrow chromosome preparation system,which was later applied in 130 patients with leukemia in our hospital.Results The orthogonal experiment results showed that the optimum conditions were colchicines concentration of 0.07 μg/mL,colchicines action time of 80 min,and hypotonic time of 35 min during the preparation of the bone marrow chromosome.Using this method,the chromosome preparation success rate reached 97.69% and the detection rate of abnormal karyotype reached 82.3% in the chromosome karyotype analysis.Conclusion Bone marrow chromosome preparation system with colchicines concentration of 0.07 μg/mL and colchicines action time of 80 min,and hypotonic time of 35 min is worthy of clinical promotion.

Objective To study the mechanism of oxidative stress involved in the pathogenesis and relapse of acute monocytic leukemia (M5 ).Methods We detected reactive oxide species (ROS)levels,conducted plasma analysis obtained from 76 M5 patients at diagnosis and at relapse,and observed the ultrastructure of mitochondria of mononuclear cells in peripheral blood by transmission electron microscope.Results Compared with that in the control group,the average fluorescence intensity of intracellular ROS was significantly increased in M5 groups, especially in the relapse patients (P < 0.05 ).Low total antioxidative capacity (T-AOC)and antioxidant enzyme activity were characteristic of M5 at both diagnosis and relapse. However, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH ), malondialdehyde (MDA)and 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanine (8-OHdG)increased significantly at both diagnosis and relapse (P < 0.05 ).Prominent ultrastructural abnormalities (mitochondrial swelling,outer membrane blebs,and aberrant cristae disorder)were present in patients with primary M5,and they were obviously abnormal in relapsing M5 patients.Conclusion Oxidative stress is the initiating factor of M5.Mitochondria are the main intracellular location for ROS generation.To maintain the dynamic balance between ROS and antioxidant defence may be the critical factor for preventing relapse.

Objective To explore the capacity of the Sweden CellaVision DM96 automatic digital cell morphology analysis sys‐tem (DM96) in nucleated cell classification of serous cavity effusion .Methods 36 specimens of serous cavity effusion were selected from the inpatients of Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi′an Jiaotong University in March 2015 and performed the Wright staining by the two kinds of method ,the Japanese Sysmex SP‐1000Ⅰ automatic smearing machine and manual smearing ,after staining ,the smear was performed the nucleated cells classification by DM96 .The consistency and relevance of the classification results by DM 96 with those by the Sysmex XT‐4000i were calculated .Results The classification results by DM96 had better consistency with the results by XT‐4000i ,moreover the cell images taking by DM96 were clear with high automatic degree .Conclusion The DM96 auto‐mated digital nucleated cell morphology analysis system is reliable and effective ,and has a significance for improving the cellular morphological analysis of serous cavity effusion specimen .

Objective To investigate the expression level and clinical significance of WT1 gene in acute luekemia (AL) patients.Methods WT1 gene level was detected by real time quantitative-polymerase chain reaction in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and in acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) patients.Then the expression levels of WT1 gene in different subtypes of AML were compared,and the correlation between gene expression and disease courses and prognosis were observed.Moreover,the relationship between disease courses and WT1 expression in patiens after receiving haemopoietic stem cell transplantation were analyzed.Results Among 66 cases,WT1 expression positive rate was 87.5 ％ (14/16) in AML and 76.0 ％ (38/50) in ALL.In AML,the expression level in M3 showed the lowest than that in any other subtypes (compared with M1,M2,M4,M5,P value was 0.040,0.007,0.006 and 0.01,respectively).The expression level of WT1 was closely correlated with leukemia disease courses.The expression level in complete remission (CR) group showed a significant lower expression level than that in non-remission group (P =0.018) and relapse group (P =0.003),and the re-increase of WT1 expression level could predict relapse as early as 1.5 months.Moreover,WT1 expression also showed an close relationship with prognosis of patients receiving haemopoietic stem cell transplantation.Patients whose WT1 was undetectable had a better prognosis than those with persistent expression,and increase again after becoming undetectable.Conclusion WT1 has a high expression level in AL,which can represent minimal residual disease.The expression level in M3 was lowest than that in different AML subtypes,and its expression level has a close correlation with clinical disease course and prognosis of AL.