Yutaka Imamura

Surface phenotype analysis of CD16+ monocytes from leukapheresis collections for peripheral blood progenitors

In peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) collections from patients with solid tumour or haematological malignancy, monocytes were separated into two subpopulations. The majority of monocytes expressed CD14 at a high density without CD16 antigen (the CD14+CD16− monocytes). The remaining monocytes co‐expressed CD14 and CD16 (the CD14+CD16+ monocytes). These CD14+CD16+ monocytes amounted to 20.6u2003±u200315.8%, while those in peripheral blood (PB) obtained from healthy volunteers were 7.3u2003±u20033.1% (Pu2003<u20030.05). When subdividing the CD14+CD16+ monocytes into CD14brightCD16dim and CD14dimCD16bright cells, both populations were found to be increased in PBPC collections. Since typical CD14+CD16+ monocytes are the CD14dimCD16bright population, we compared the additional surface antigens on CD14dimCD16bright monocytes with those of CD14+CD16−monocytes. In PBPC collections, the CD14dimCD16bright monocytes exhibited lower levels of CD11b, CD15, CD33 and CD38 expression and higher levels of CD4, CD11a, CD11c and MHC class II, and also revealed a higher percentage of CD4+ cells and a lower percentage of CD15+ cells and CD38+ cells, compared with the CD14+CD16− monocytes. When compared with the CD14dimCD16bright monocytes in PB, those in PBPC collections exhibited higher expression of CD4 and lower expression of CD11b, and also showed higher percentages of CD4+ cells and CD38+ cells and a lower percentage of CD11b+ cells. These results suggest that PBPC collections may be rich in the CD14+CD16+ monocytes in which the proportion of the immature population is increased. It is likely that these monocytes participate in the haematological and immune recovery after PBPC transplantation.

Flow cytometric detection of cytomegalovirus antigen in peripheral blood cells after bone marrow transplantation

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) immediate‐early (IE) antigen within the nucleus of cells was detected by flow cytometry in peripheral blood obtained from five bone marrow transplant recipients. In patients with an unexplained fever, CMV antigens were detected in monocytes or lymphocytes. On the other hand, in patients with CMV pneumonia, CMV antigens were detected in polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNLs). We suggest that the detection of CMV antigen in monocytes or lymphocytes may be related to CMV activation or reactivation, and the positive results in PMNLs indicate that the patient has a CMV‐associated disease (CMV pneumonia). Our method may be useful in monitoring CMV activation or reactivation, and analysing the mechanisms of CMV infection.

Rapid quantitative analysis of human cytomegalovirus DNA by the real-time polymerase chain reaction method.

CONTEXTnHuman cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a progressive and life-threatening complication in immunocompromised patients even now. Therefore, early and accurate treatment based on rapid and certain detection is needed to prevent fatal CMV infection diseases.nnnOBJECTIVEnTo study a quicker, simpler, and less expensive method of quantitative analysis using real-time polymerase chain reaction based on the SYBR Green I method of CMV detection for appropriate treatment of CMV infection in immunocompromised patients.nnnDESIGNnWe quantified 50 samples tested by direct immunoperoxidase staining of leukocytes with peroxidase-labeled monoclonal antibody (C7-HRP test), 30 samples from healthy persons, and 47 samples from 7 patients suspected of having CMV infection diseases. We used the primer set in the pp65 gene of CMV and whole blood without a preparatory process. The setting for the study was the First Department of Pathology, Kurume University School of Medicine, St Marys Hospital, and the Gene Section of the Clinical Laboratory at St Marys Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan.nnnRESULTSnThe results obtained with this method corresponded well with conventional C7-HRP tests and demonstrated excellent reproduction. Additionally, the results were better correlated with the clinical course than were C7-HRP tests.nnnCONCLUSIONSnThis method was more useful than the C7-HRP test as a rapid diagnostic test for early treatment of CMV infection. This test also demonstrated its usefulness for monitoring CMV infection during treatment using ganciclovir. Moreover, it was quicker, simpler, and cheaper than other real-time polymerase chain reaction methods.

A Case with Multiple Colonic Ulcers Simulating Churg‐Strauss Syndrome

Abstract: Churg‐Strauss syndrome (CSS), a relatively rare disorder which is associated with serious complications, has a highly variable course and several possible manifestations. We present the case of a 35‐year‐old woman with a history of bronchial asthma, admitted for evaluation of lower abdominal pain and melena, whose clinical course had certain features in common with CSS. On admission, the white blood cell count was 45,300/mm3 with 65% eosinophils, and the serum immunoglobulin E (5,300 u/ml) level was remarkably elevated. At colonoscopy, there were shallow ulcers, irregular in shape, throughout the large intestine. Abdominal pain and melena were relieved by oral administration of prednisolone. Most previously reported cases have not been recognized as having colonic involvement until surgery or autopsy. In only a few reports of CSS and related disorders were colonoscopic examination findings described.