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Bone marrow lymphocyte subsets in myelodysplastic syndromes
W Hilbe1, W Eisterer, C Schmid
1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Innsbruck, Austria.
Insights
Increased B lymphocytes in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) bone marrow correlate with poor prognosis. T cell and NK cell subsets showed no major abnormalities in MDS patients compared to controls.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Immunology
- Oncology
Background:
- Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a group of clonal hematopoietic stem cell disorders.
- Understanding lymphocyte subset alterations in MDS is crucial for prognostic assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate lymphocyte subset profiles in bone marrow biopsy specimens from MDS patients.
- To correlate immunohistological findings with patient prognosis.
Main Methods:
- Immunophenotyping of bone marrow trephine biopsy specimens from 65 MDS patients using antibody panels.
- Microscopic counting of at least 1000 cells per specimen.
- Statistical assessment of the association between immunohistological variables and prognosis.
Main Results:
- No significant abnormalities in T cells (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD25, TCR gamma/delta) or natural killer cells (CD56, CD57) were observed in MDS patients compared to normal controls.
- A notable increase in B lymphocytes (19%) was found in high-risk MDS (RAEB, RAEB-t) cases, unlike in low-risk groups (RA, RARS).
- B cell percentages exceeding 3% (CD19, CD22) significantly correlated with poorer survival outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Observed deviations in T lymphocyte counts in peripheral blood and bone marrow aspirates were not confirmed in bone marrow biopsy specimens.
- Elevated B lymphocyte percentages in bone marrow biopsies are a significant indicator of poor prognosis in MDS.
Aim:
To examine lymphocyte subsets in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS); and to correlate immunohistological variables with prognosis.
Methods:
Bone marrow trephine biopsy specimens from 65 patients with MDS were immunophenotyped using a panel of antibodies. A minimum of 1000 cells from representative areas of marrow sections were counted at light microscopy. The association between immunohistological variables and prognosis was assessed.
Results:
Compared with normal control marrows (n = 23) no major abnormalities of T cells (CD3), T cell subsets (CD4, CD8, CD25, TCR gamma/delta) or natural killer cells (CD56, CD57) were seen in the 65 patients. In high risk MDS (RAEB, RAEB-t) 19% of the cases showed increased numbers of B lymphocytes compared with none in the low risk group (RA, RARS) (p < 0.0090). Only percentages of B cells above 3% significantly correlated with poor survival (p = 0.0121 for CD19, p = 0.046 for CD22).
Conclusions:
The deviations in T lymphocyte counts seen in peripheral blood and in bone marrow aspirates could not be verified in bone marrow biopsy specimens.