The liver is the largest solid organ in the body and is frequently the site of injury. During disease, liver injury is usually compensated for by exceptionally efficient regeneration which occurs both from differentiated epithelia and also from an undifferentiated cell population with stem cell like qualities known as hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs). HPCs are particularly active during massive or chronic liver injury and therefore are an attractive target for much needed novel therapies to enhance regeneration in patients for whom the only current effective therapy is liver transplantation. Stem cells in other organs systems are believed to reside in a specialised microenvironment or niche which supports their maintenance and function. To investigate the hypothesis that HPCs are supported by a functional niche and are capable of regenerating hepatocytes, we commenced by establishing a number of murine in vivo models. Having shown a stereotypical niche, consisting of macrophages, myofibroblasts and laminin exists in both animal models and human disease, we investigated the active recruitment of extrahepatic cells into this niche and showed that macrophages are actively recruited from the bone marrow during liver injury. Macrophages were shown to influence HPC behaviour during injury. Furthermore using macrophages as a cellular therapy, induced HPC activation with corresponding changes to liver structure and function. Investigation of signalling pathways revealed and confirmed a TWEAK dependent activation of HPCs following macrophage transfer. Having demonstrated the potential for macrophage therapy via HPC activation, we aimed to study the ability of HPCs to regenerate the hepatic parenchyma. To do so we developed and characterised a novel model of hepatocellular injury and HPC activation. Using the genetic labeling of hepatocytes in this model we were able to show rapid and large scale repopulation of hepatocytes from a precursor source with HPCs being the critical precursor source of hepatocellular regeneration. In addition this process is again dependent on TWEAK signalling, without which HPC mediated regeneration fails resulting in mortality. Therefore HPCs are an attractive biological target for regenerative medicine, and both TWEAK signalling and autologous macrophage infusion offer genuine potential to manipulate these cells as future therapies.

A Thesis submitted to The University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Medicine. / In this study we examine the utility of using CD8+ T cell hybridomas to measure the ability of bone marrow dendritic cells (BMDCs) to internalize cancer proteins and display them to cytotoxic T cells, a process termed cross‐presentation. We test the ability of a newly generated T cell hybridoma called BUSA14 to detect cross‐presentation of the melanoma antigen gp100. BUSA14 produces a dose‐dependent response to human and mouse gp100 peptides. However, cross‐presentation of gp100 by BMDCs using SK‐MEL‐28 human melanoma cell lysates or direct MHC class I‐restricted presentation by B16 murine melanoma cells was not detected. Both SKMEL‐28 and B16 cells express gp100 protein by immunoblot, and gp100 as a membrane bound protein may be concentrated by cell fractionation techniques. We validated our crosspresentation assay with another T cell hybridoma B3Z to detect cross‐presentation of the model antigen ovalbumin. Lastly, we determined that although BUSA14 expresses the coreceptor CD8, BUSA14 lacks CD3 expression, which likely impairs the ability of this hybridoma to respond to engagement of the T cell receptor and contributes to the inability to detect presentation of native gp100 protein. To resolve these issues, we plan to use primary gp100‐specific T cells from pmel mice expressing the same T cell receptor as the BUSA14 hybridoma to detect presentation of gp100 protein. Ultimately, we plan to evaluate the requirements for cross‐presentation of gp100, including a role for gamma‐interferon‐inducible lysosomal thiol reductase (GILT), a disulfide bond reducing enzyme.

Understanding mast cell development is central to allergic disease pathophysiology. Our laboratory has previously shown that cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-10 inhibit mast cell development from bone marrow progenitors. These studies encouraged our interest in other regulatory cytokines, including transforming growth factor β1 (TGF- β1). TGF- β1 has many cellular sources, one of which is CD4+CD25 regulatory T cells (Tregs). We wanted to determine the effects of Transforming Growth Factor (TGF) βl on mast cell development. We find that TGFβl decreased FcεRI, c-Kit, T1/ST2 and FcεR expression, and inhibited granule formation in developing mast cells. Accessory cells were not required for this inhibition. Smad3-deficiency did not alter the response of bone marrow cells to TGFβ1. TGFβl inhibited expression of the FcεRI a subunit protein, without decreasing β or γ proteins. Mast cells derived in the presence of TGFβl were functionally impaired, as IgE-mediated cytokine secretion was greatly reduced. The changes in granule formation and surface antigen expression were long-standing, as they were not reversed by transfer to W/WV mice. The TGF-β1 dependent transcriptional regulation of bone marrow cells from which mast cells develop was examined through DNA microarray analysis. Wild type (WT) bone marrow cells were stimulated with IL-3+SCF+vehicle or IL-3+SCF+TGF-βI for 10 days and their transcriptomes* analyzed. The results identified which components of transcriptional regulation were regulated by TGF- β1. Of particular interest was the upregulation of the β subunit of the FcεRI, inspite of no receptor surface expression and the differential regulation of various mast cell proteases (MCPs). This initial survey provides a potential starting point for further analysis of the role of TGF-β1 -dependent signaling in developing mast cells. Because they produce TGF-β1 and/or IL-10, regulatory T cell-dependent murine mast cell inhibition was examined. Co-culture of mast cells with regulatory T cells for 6 days downregulated mast cell number, high affinity IgE receptor and c-Kit surface expression. This led to a decrease in TNFa release making mast cells functionally impaired. By using Tregs from IL-10 KO mice, this effect was proven to be IL-10 dependent. Mast cells are mediators of inflammatory disease. TGFβl and IL-10 may contribute to mast cell homeostasis by inhibiting maturation from bone marrow precursors. The effects of TGFβ1 and regulatory T cell derived IL-10 result in greatly diminished expression of cell surface markers, reduced granulation, and lack of responsiveness to IgE-mediated activation. Thus TGFβl and/or CD+CD25+ T cells can serve as potent and multifunctional regulators of mast cell maturation and/or function.* A set of genes that are expressed in a cell at any given time.

Fluorine-18 Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (F-18 FDG PET-CT) is now established in the staging, restaging and therapy response monitoring of Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) and high grade Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HG NHL), specifically for nodal disease and extra-nodal disease excluding the bone marrow. The role of FDG PET-CT for evaluating bone marrow involvement in HL and HG NHL has not been established yet. There are however several publications on this subject but no consensus has been reached. Bone marrow trephine biopsy (BMB) is the gold standard for bone marrow assessment in lymphoma. Although the occurrence of adverse effects is uncommon, BMB is an invasive procedure that may induce anxiety in patients. A retrospective review of FDG PET-CT bone marrow findings of HL patients referred for a staging scan from June 2008 to January 2014 was done, these findings were compared to the BMB findings also done as part of initial staging. The findings of 55 patients were reviewed analysed.

Citopenia é um importante sinal de falência medular, sendo um achado comum de várias doenças, dentre as quais se destacam as mielodisplasias e a anemia aplástica. As mielodisplasias correspondem a um grupo de alterações hematopoéticas de natureza clonal, cuja principal característica é a hematopoese ineficaz, clinicamente manifesta como uma medula óssea celular, porém associada a citopenias. Já a anemia aplástica apresenta uma medula hipo ou acelular sem evidência de infiltração neoplásica, sendo substituída por tecido gorduroso. O gene GATA2 é um fator regulador da hematopoese, atuando também na manutenção e proliferação do pool de células-tronco e progenitoras hematopoéticas. Recentemente, mutações constitucionais no gene GATA2 foram descritas na síndrome de monocitopenia e infecção micobacteriana (MonoMac), que eventualmente cursa com outras citopenias, medula hipocelular ou mesmo mielodisplasia. Entretanto, a contribuição de mutações no gene GATA2 para o desenvolvimento de anemia aplástica adquirida e síndrome mielodisplásica não é conhecida. Neste trabalho, propomos pesquisar mutações no gene GATA2 em pacientes com anemia aplástica adquirida e síndrome mielodisplásica, por meio de sequenciamento direto do DNA. Adicionalmente, também avaliaremos as subpopulações linfocitárias no sangue periférico e níveis de citocinas plasmáticas no intuito de correlacionar a presença de mutação do GATA2 a um perfil imunológico. / Cytopenia is an important signal of marrow failure, being commom to various diseases, among them myelodysplasia and aplastic anemia. Myelodysplasia is a group of hematopoietic clonal disorders, with inneficient hematopoiesis, cellular bone marrow with associated cytopenias. The aplastic anemia presents a hypo or even acellular bone marrow without any evidence of neoplastic infiltration with the stem cells being substituted by fat. The GATA2 gene is a key regulator of hematopoiesis, also acting on the maintenance and proliferation of stem and progenitor cells. Recently, constitutional mutations in the GATA2 gene were described in MonoMAC syndrome, which eventually presents cytopenias, hypocellular marrow or even myelodysplasia. However, the contribution of GATA2 mutations for the development of acquired aplastic anemia or myelodysplasia is not known. In this work we aim to search for GATA2 gene mutations in patients with acquired aplastic anemia and myelodysplasia through Sanger sequencing. Also, we will evaluate the levels of subpopulations of lymphocytes and the plasmatic levels of cytokines to establish a correlation between the presence of mutation in the GATA2 and a specific immune profile

Trata-se de uma pesquisa que utilizou a revisão integrativa da literatura que objetivou as possíveis intervenções de enfermagem para os familiares de clientes transplantados de medula óssea. Realizou-se a busca de artigos e teses nas bases de dados eletrônicas Lilacs e Medline (período de 01/01/1990 a 05/05/2005), utilizando-se as palavras: “bmt" e “family" e “bone marrow transplantation" e “family" respectivamente. Foram identificadas duas publicações no Lilacs, sendo que apenas uma foi pertinente ao tema proposto e 807 publicações no Medline, das quais apenas 24 abordavam o tema proposto, a amostra foi constituída por 25 publicações. Para análise dos artigos utilizou-se um instrumento para identificação das características dos artigos, níveis de evidências, delineamento da pesquisa, características da crise familiar, fatores que influenciam a habilidade das famílias para enfrentar e se adaptar a uma crise e, por fim, intervenções de enfermagem propostas. Foi utilizado o modelo de crise proposto por Hill e Hansen que classifica a crise em quatro categorias: características do evento, ameaças percebidas, avaliação dos recursos da família e experiência passada em crises. Os resultados mostraram que 96% dos artigos foram obtidos do Medline, sendo que 12 (48%) artigos foram desenvolvidos por enfermeiros e os demais por outros profissionais. Em relação ao tipo de revista, 36% dos artigos foram publicados em periódicos específicos de enfermagem, sendo que 72% provém dos EUA, 16% da Grécia, Canadá, Polônia e Brasil (distribuídos igualmente) e 12% não foi possível identificar a procedência. As evidências clínicas variaram entre os níveis 4(64%), 5 (4%) e 6 (28%), e mostraram a importância da comunicação efetiva e clara entre os membros familiares, equipe e paciente para minimizar a ansiedade e depressão; que os tipos específicos de família, suas características, coesão, poucos conflitos, orientações culturais e intelectuais e ênfase religiosa promovem maior suporte emocional aos mesmos e que os grupos de apoio e redes de apoio minimizam a ansiedade, angústia e a depressão vivenciada pelo paciente e sua família. Quanto às intervenções percebe-se que a maioria está voltada para os aspectos psicológicos e sociais, sendo relevantes a ação do enfermeiro nas propostas de estratégias de enfrentamento para o familiar e o paciente frente às diversas fases do TMO. As intervenções propostas na literatura vão ao encontro das sugeridas pela NIC para os diagnósticos de enfermagem “processos familiares interrompidos e enfrentamento familiar comprometido"; em especial o suporte emocional (64%), suporte familiar (36%), redução da ansiedade (28%), grupo de apoio (32%), melhora do enfrentamento (40%) e assistência quanto aos recursos financeiros (24%). Apreende-se que outras intervenções sugeridas pela NIC poderão ser desenvolvidas pelos enfermeiros. / This study presents an integrative literature review of possible nursing interventions for family members of bone marrow transplant (BMT) patients. We looked for articles and theses in the electronic databases Lilacs and Medline (from 01/01/1990 to 05/05/2005), using the following keywords: “bmt" and “family" and “bone marrow transplantation" and “family" respectively. Two publications were identified in Lilacs, one of which was relevant for the proposed subject, against 807 publications in Medline, 24 of which dealt with the proposed theme. Thus, the sample consisted of 25 publications. In the analysis, we used an instrument to identify the articles’ characteristics, levels of evidence, research design, family crisis characteristics, factors influencing the families’ ability to deal with and adapt to a crisis and, finally, proposed nursing interventions. The crisis model by Hill and Hansen was used, which classifies a crisis into 4 categories: event characteristics, perceived threats, family resources and past crisis experience. The results evidenced that 96% of the articles came from Medline, 12 (48%) of which were developed by nurses and the remainder by other professionals. What the type of journal is concerned, 36% of the articles were published in specific nursing periodicals, 72% of which were from the USA, 16% from Greece, Canada, Poland and Brazil (equal distribution) and, for 12%, the origin could not be identified. Clinical evidence varied between levels 4 (64%), 5 (4%) and 6 (28%) and demonstrated the importance of effective and clear communication between family members, team and patient with a view to minimizing anxiety and depression; that specific family types, their characteristics, cohesion, few conflicts, cultural and intellectual orientations and religious emphasis provide greater emotional support and that support groups and networks minimize the anxiety, anguish and depression patients and relatives experience. Most interventions are aimed at psychological and social aspects. Nursing actions are relevant in strategies proposed for family members and patients to cope with the different phases of BMT. The interventions proposed in literature are in accordance with suggested NIC interventions for the nursing diagnoses “interrupted family processes and compromised family coping"; especially emotional support (64%), family support (36%), anxiety reduction (28%), support group (32%), improved coping (40%) and financial aid (24%). We believe that nurses can develop other NIC interventions.

Thesis (M.A.)--Boston University / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / Autologous Bone Marrow Transplantation (ABMT) provides a way to rescue the hematopoietic system in patients receiving high dose chemotherapy. Solid tumors like lung and breast cancer are the targets for new therapies that involve high dose chemotherapy with AMBT due to their growth and pathologic characteristics. Reinfusion of bone marrow with metastatic neoplastic cells could also seed viable tumor cells, and thus be a reason for treatment failure, restricting high-dose chemotherapy with bone marrow support to patients whose marrow is morphologically free of tumor cells. The use magnetic beads for physical separation of tumor from normal cells and the use of a toxin delivered by a monoclonal antibody are examined as two purging methods for treatment. The use of magnetic beads conjugated with specific antibodies (SM1, LAM2 and LS1) against tumor antigens to purge 2-3 logs of Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) contamination from bone marrow is demonstrated. Optimal performance calls for short double exposure to anti-tumor cell-antigen monoclonal antibodies, followed by exposure to magnetic beads coated with antibodies specific for the monoclonal anti-SCLC antibodies, maintaining a bead-to-cell ratio of 10:1 to 100:1. Specific toxin delivery to three breast cancer cell lines (ZR-75, BT20 and MCF7) expressing the DF3 antigen was demonstrated by the use of DF3 immunotoxin (DF3-IT). The optimal concentration of the DF3-IT immunotoxin for highest tumor kill was shown to be 1x1Q-9 M, but this caused a loss of bone marrow progenitor cell colonies of about 30%. Both methods are limited chiefly by the level of antigen expression in the target tumor cells. The purging efficiency could be improved by targeting a wider range of antigens or by inducing higher levels of antigen expression. From the clinical perspective, the advantages and need for purging involved bone marrow to bring about substantially improved curative strategies remains a question still unanswered. / 2031-01-01

La présence synchrone de métastases hépatiques (MH) et carcinose péritonéale (CP)d'origine colorectale (CRC) est associée à une survie globale médiocre et est traditionnellement considérée comme une contre-indication à l’approche chirurgicale curative. Cependant, suite aux résultats encourageants après traitement chirurgicale, quelques séries ont rapporté une survie prolongée atteignant 3 ans chez des patients sélectionnés, ce qui suggère qu’un traitement chirurgicale curative est possible. À ce jour, en cas de chirurgie majeure hépatique et péritonéale associée, aucune stratégie thérapeutique n'a été établie, Nous avons postulé que la régénération hépatique après une résection hépatique pourrait favoriser la croissance de la CP. Nous avons construit un modèle animal immunnocompetent de CP limitée. L'objectif de l’étude était d'analyser les effets de l’hépatectomie majeure et de la régénération hépatique dans notre modèle murin de PC et le processus d'angiogenèse associé. En outre, nous avons analysée une cohorte prospective multicentrique de patients ayant eu une résection hépatique et une chirurgie cytoréductive avec HIPEC synchrone. L'objectif de cette étude était d'évaluer les outcomes et identifier les facteurs pronostiques afin d'optimiser la sélection des candidats au traitement chirurgical et de déterminer la stratégie chirurgicale optimale. / The synchronous presence of liver metastases (LM) and peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC)from colorectal cancer (CRC) is associated with poor outcome and is traditionally considered acontraindication to any surgical approach. However, few series reported a prolonged survival aftersurgical management, reaching 3 years in selected patients thus suggesting that a curative surgicalmanagement may be possible. To date, no standard management pathway has been established,especially if a major liver and peritoneal surgery has to be performed. We postulated that liverregeneration after liver resection could promote PC growth. We constructed an immunocompetentanimal model of limited PC. The objective of our study was to analyze the effects of major LR andliver regeneration after hepatectomy on peritoneal carcinomatosis growth and the associatedangiogenesis process. Furthermore, we have analyzed a prospective international cohort of patientsundergoing synchronous liver resection and cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC. The aim of this studywas to describe the outcomes, to identify variables potentially related to poor outcome, in order toestablish future guideline for the management of these patients, to optimize the selection of candidatesfor surgical treatment and determine the best surgical strategy.

Circulating neutrophil activation occurs during cardiac surgery with extracorporeal circulation (ECC) and is implicated in the pathophysiology of inflammatory tissue injury and peri-operative organ dysfunction. However, neutrophil directed antiinflammatory strategies have failed to demonstrate consistent therapeutic benefit indicating that the nature and significance of peri-operative circulating neutrophil activation remains incompletely defined. In particular, conformational activation of the b2 integrin Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18), which is required for neutrophil adhesion competence and facilitation of effector functions, has not previously been investigated during cardiac surgery, and the relative contribution of cellular activation and bone marrow neutrophil recruitment to peri-operative changes in circulating neutrophil phenotype and function is unknown. A novel whole blood flow cytometric technique was used to analyze circulating neutrophil phenotype (total Mac-1, conformationally-active CD11b, CD10, CD16, L-selectin and P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1) and function in cardiac surgery patients to characterize the nature of changes in Mac-1 expression and activation status, and the effects of relative neutrophil immaturity on circulating neutrophil phenotype and function. The effect of heparin, a known CD11b ligand, on Mac-1 epitope expression was also investigated. Circulating neutrophil numbers observed during ECC were mathematically modeled to determine the acute response of the bone marrow neutrophil reserve to an inflammatory stimulus. Plasma cytokine, chemokine and acute phase mediators were measured in cardiac and lung surgery patients to determine potential regulators of systemic neutrophil recruitment. Neutrophils newlyemergent from the bone marrow were characterized as CD10-/CD16low and exhibited distinct changes in cell surface markers and enhanced functional responses, relative to their more mature CD10+ counterparts. Conformational activation of CD11b occurred peri-operatively and provided a more sensitive measure of circulating neutrophil activation status than changes in total Mac-1 or L-selectin expression, although detection of Mac-1 epitopes was reduced in the presence of heparin. Modeling of circulating neutrophil numbers predicted that post-mitotic maturation time was acutely abbreviated by 8.4 hours during 71 minutes of ECC. Systemic chemokine release occurred with cardiac but not non-cardiac thoracic surgery indicating some specificity of the acute inflammatory response. These findings expand the understanding of peri-operative circulating neutrophil activation and recruitment, and identify potential therapeutic targets to limit neutrophil injurious potential during cardiac surgery with ECC.

We show that the prion protein (PrP) is expressed on the surface of bone marrow cell populations enriched in long-term repopulating hematopoietic stem cells. Affinity purification of the PrP-positive and PrP-negative fractions from these populations, followed by competitive reconstitution assays, show that all long-term repopulating hematopoietic stem cells express PrP. Hematopoietic stem cells from PrP null bone marrow exhibit impaired self-renewal in serial competitive transplantation experiments, and premature exhaustion when exposed to cell cycle-specific myelotoxic injury. Therefore, PrP is a novel marker for hematopoietic stem cells and regulates their self-renewal. / Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA)