The Myelodepletive Phenotype in Myelofibrosis: Clinical Relevance and Therapeutic Implication

Myelofibrosis (MF) is a BCR-ABL1⁻ myeloproliferative neoplasm that arises from hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells frequently harboring a somatic driver mutation in 1 of 3 genes: JAK2, CALR, or MPL. The pathologic features of this hematologic malignancy include myeloproliferation, diffuse bone marrow fibrosis, and overactivation of the JAK-STAT pathway, resulting in enhanced inflammatory cytokine release. The common clinical manifestations of MF include systemic symptoms, abnormal peripheral blood count levels, and splenomegaly. However, it has become increasingly appreciated that significant clinical heterogeneity exists among patients with MF. Two distinct MF clinical phenotypes include the myeloproliferative and myelodepletive phenotype, with peripheral blood counts being the main discerning feature. Patients with the myeloproliferative phenotype will present with elevated peripheral blood counts and often experience significant constitutional symptoms and progressive splenomegaly. In contrast, patients with the myelodepletive phenotype will have low peripheral blood counts and will frequently require transfusion support. Current frontline therapies for MF, include ruxolitinib and fedratinib, which can exacerbate cytopenias and thereby pose an impediment to effective treatment of the myelodepletive patient. The present review discusses the clinical and prognostic implications of the myelodepletive phenotype and the therapeutic options and limitations for this subset of patients, representing an unmet clinical need.     

Attenuated Novel SARS Coronavirus 2 Infection in an Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Patient on Ruxolitinib

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) has a high death rate in patients with comorbidities or in an immunocompromised state. We report a mild and attenuated SARS CoV-2 infection in a patient who is 17 months post stem cell transplantation and maintained on the JAK/STAT inhibitor ruxolitinib, a proposed novel therapy for SARS CoV-2 pneumonia.     

Influence of SNPs in cytokine-related genes on the severity of food allergy and atopic eczema in children

Although many single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) studies have reported an association of atopy, allergic diseases and total serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels, almost all of these studies sought risk factors for the onset of these allergic diseases. Furthermore, many studies have analyzed a single gene and hardly any have analyzed environmental factors. In these analyses, the results could be masked and the effects of other genes and environmental factors may be decreased. Here, we described the correlation between four genes [interleukin (IL)-4 (C-590T), IL-4 receptor (A1652G), FCER1B (G6842A) and STAT6 (G2964A)] in connection with IgE production; the role of IL-10 (C-627A) as a regulatory cytokine of allergy; and the severity of food allergy (FA) and atopic eczema (AE) in 220 Japanese allergic children. In addition to these SNPs, environmental factors, i.e., patient's attitude, indoor environment, and so on, were also investigated in this study. Our study was retrospective, and the correlation was analyzed by our defined clinical scores divided into three terms: worst symptoms, recent symptoms and general amelioration at the most recent examination during the disease course. Our results indicated that IL-10 AA, the genotype with lower IL-10 production, is associated with higher IgE levels in the serum (p < 0.0001, estimate; 0.912). Marginal liver abnormalities were observed in the subject group with both FA and AE (p < 0.1191, estimate; 0.1490). Our defined clinical scores enabled evaluation of various aspects of disease severity. Based on the scores, while no single SNP selected in this study determined severity, the combination of the SNP with laboratory data and environmental factors appeared to determine severity.     

Stat3显性负性基因调控人结肠癌细胞增殖与凋亡的分子机制

目的 探讨转染Stat3（转录信号传导子和激活子3）显性负性基因Stat3β质粒阻断人结肠癌细胞系SW480细胞的Stat3信号传导通路对人结肠癌细胞增殖和凋亡的影响及可能的机制.方法 应用阳离子脂质体向人结肠癌细胞系SW480细胞中转染携带Stat3β基因的质粒,四唑盐法检测细胞增殖能力,流式细胞术检测细胞周期和细胞凋亡,反转录聚合酶链反应检测Stat3靶基因cyclinD1、bcl-xL mRNA表达情况.数据统计分析采用独立样本t检验.结果 转染Stat3β质粒36 h后,SW480细胞的增殖受到显著抑制（t=5.216,P=0.006）;G0/G1期的细胞比例由40.37%上升至67.25%,S期细胞由44.68%下降至31.23%;发生早期凋亡的细胞比例由5.34%上升至24.42%;同时cyclin D1、bcl-xLmRNA表达水平较对照组显著下降（t=5.228,P=0.010;t=3.517,P=0.025）.结论 转染携带Stat3β基因的质粒可以通过下调Stat3靶基因的表达抑制人结肠癌细胞的增殖,促进凋亡,为以Stat3为靶点的结肠癌基因治疗提供了实验基础.     

大鼠脑血肿周围组织STAT 3的表达、细胞凋亡的变化与CNTF的影响

目的 观察大鼠脑血肿周围组织STAT3, Bcl-2, Caspase-3的表达情况,并探讨睫状神经营养因子(CNTF)对出血性脑卒中的治疗作用及其可能机制.方法 实验大鼠随机分为假手术组、模型组、CNTF治疗组,采用自体股动脉血注入大鼠尾壳核建立脑出血模型,CNTF治疗组于术后经尾静脉注射CNTF.分别于术后12h、24h、3d、5d 4个时间点取脑组织,应用免疫组化方法检测血肿周围组织STAT3, Bcl-2, caspase-3的表达情况.结果 CNTF治疗组大鼠脑血肿周围组织STAT3, Bcl-2的表达明显高于其他组,Caspase-3的表达水平比模型组低.结论 CNTF对脑出血后损伤神经细胞具有保护作用,其可能的机制为通过上调STAT3的表达,使Bcl-2的表达升高,从而减少出血灶周围细胞的凋亡.     

乳腺癌组织中STAT3激活的意义

目的:分析STAT3在乳腺癌及癌旁乳腺组织中的激活水平与乳腺癌临床分期的关系,探讨STAT3在乳腺癌发病机制中的作用.方法:乳腺癌手术标本36例,免疫组化SP法检测STAT3蛋白在乳腺癌组织中的表达;凝胶迁移电泳率实验测定STAT3在乳腺癌及癌旁乳腺组织中的激活水平.结果:在临床ⅡA,ⅡB和ⅢA期乳腺癌组织中STAT3激活水平均明显高于同期癌旁乳腺组织(P均＜0.01),ⅡA,ⅡB和ⅢA期乳腺癌组织中STAT3激活水平无显著差异(P＞0.05);STAT3蛋白主要表达于细胞质和细胞核.结论:STAT3可能在乳腺癌的发生发展中有重要的作用;抑制STAT3的激活可能成为治疗乳腺癌的一种新的途径.     

短发卡RNA对人胃癌细胞STAT3基因的沉默作用

目的:探讨STAT3基因小发夹RNA（shRNA）表达质粒对胃癌MKN-45细胞STAT3基因的干扰作用。方法:根据STAT3 mRNA 编码序列，设计RNA干扰靶点，构建STAT3基因的特异性小RNA干扰质粒（psiRNA-H1/STAT3），使用脂质体转染人胃癌细胞系（MKN-45细胞）。实验分为对照（A）组，psiRNA-H1转染（B）组和psiRNA-H1/STAT3转染（C）组。通过RT-PCR和Western Blot检测STAT3特异性小RNA干扰基因对胃癌细胞STAT3基因mRNA和蛋白表达的影响。结果:psiRNA-H1/STAT3经限制性酶切及部分序列分析证明基因插入正确，并经测序证实。将其成功转染MKN-45细胞后，该细胞的STAT3 mRNA和蛋白表达均明显下降(P<0.05)。 结论:将成功构建的针对STAT3基因的shRNA表达载体转染MKN-45细胞，能有效抑制该细胞的STAT3 mRNA和蛋白表达，为STAT3基因靶向治疗提供一定的实验依据。     

庆大霉素损伤后豚鼠前庭上皮STAT3mRNA的表达变化及意义

目的：观察庆大霉素损伤后豚鼠前庭上皮修复期细胞增殖和STAT3 mRNA的表达变化情况，探讨其生物学特性和意义。方法：采用原位杂交组织化学方法，检测庆大霉素损伤后豚鼠前庭上皮STAT3 mRNA的表达变化；采用Brdu体内标记和抗Brdu抗体免疫组化染色，检测庆大霉素损伤后豚鼠前庭上皮修复期细胞增殖情况。结果：在正常成年豚鼠前庭上皮中，STAT3 mRNA有低水平表达。庆大霉素损伤后1d组，STAT3 mRNA杂交信号最强，其后逐渐减少，21d组与正常对照组无显著差异。在正常对照组前庭上皮中无Brdu阳性细胞。各实验组均观察到Brdu阳性细胞，7d组最多。结论：庆大霉素损伤后，豚鼠前庭上皮钉AT3 mRNA表达增强，其时程变化与细胞增殖活动密切相关。STAT3在豚鼠前庭上皮损伤后的自发修复中可能起重要信号转导作用。