-
Frontiers in Bioinformatics 2022Osteoclasts are multinucleated cells that exclusively resorb bone matrix proteins and minerals on the bone surface. They differentiate from monocyte/macrophage-lineage...
Osteoclasts are multinucleated cells that exclusively resorb bone matrix proteins and minerals on the bone surface. They differentiate from monocyte/macrophage-lineage cells in the presence of osteoclastogenic cytokines such as the receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) and are stained positive for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP). In vitro, osteoclast formation assays are commonly used to assess the capacity of osteoclast precursor cells for differentiating into osteoclasts wherein the number of TRAP-positive multinucleated cells are counted as osteoclasts. Osteoclasts are manually identified on cell culture dishes by human eyes, which is a labor-intensive process. Moreover, the manual procedure is not objective and result in lack of reproducibility. To accelerate the process and reduce the workload for counting the number of osteoclasts, we developed OC_Finder, a fully automated system for identifying osteoclasts in microscopic images. OC_Finder consists of cell image segmentation with a watershed algorithm and cell classification using deep learning. OC_Finder detected osteoclasts differentiated from wild-type and precursor cells at a 99.4% accuracy for segmentation and at a 98.1% accuracy for classification. The number of osteoclasts classified by OC_Finder was at the same accuracy level with manual counting by a human expert. OC_Finder also showed consistent performance on additional datasets collected with different microscopes with different settings by a different operator. Together, successful development of OC_Finder suggests that deep learning is a useful tool to perform prompt and accurate unbiased classification and detection of specific cell types in microscopic images.
PubMed: 35474753
DOI: 10.3389/fbinf.2022.819570 -
The American Journal of Surgical... Oct 2021Blast evaluation in patients with acute monocytic leukemias (AMoL) is notoriously difficult due to the lack of reliable surface markers and cytologic subtleties on the...
Blast evaluation in patients with acute monocytic leukemias (AMoL) is notoriously difficult due to the lack of reliable surface markers and cytologic subtleties on the aspirate smears. While blasts of most nonmonocytic acute leukemias express CD34, available immunohistochemical antibodies to monocytic blasts also mark normal background mature monocytes. We searched for a potential biomarker candidate by surveying specific gene expression profiles of monocyte progenitors. Our investigations led us to IRF8, which is a lineage-specific transcription factor critical for the production of monocytic and dendritic cell progenitors. In this study, we tested and validated a monoclonal antibody to IRF8 as a novel immunohistochemical stain for trephine core biopsies of human bone marrow. We assessed the expression of IRF8 in 90 cases of AMoL, including posttherapy staging bone marrows, 23 cases of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, 26 cases of other acute myeloid leukemia subtypes, and 18 normal control marrows. In AMoL, there was high correlation of IRF8-positive cells to aspirate blast count (R=0.95). Comparison of IRF8 staining to aspirate blast percentage in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia also showed good correlation (R=0.86). In contrast, IRF8-positive cells did not correlate with blast count in other subtypes of acute myeloid leukemia (R=0.56) and staining was <5% in all normal control marrows, even those with reactive monocytosis. We found that IRF8 was also weakly reactive in B cells and hematogones, with the latter accounting for rare cases of discrepancies. When IRF8 was used to categorize cases as AMoL, positive for residual leukemia or negative, the sensitivity was 98%, specificity was 82%, positive predictive value was 86%, and negative predictive value was 98%. These results demonstrate that IRF8 may serve as a clinically useful immunostain to diagnose and track AMoLs on bone marrow core biopsies. This can be particularly impactful in the setting of poor aspiration and focal blast increase. In the era of new targeted therapies that have been reported to induce monocytic outgrowths of leukemia, a marker for malignant monoblasts may prove even more critical.
Topics: Aged; Biomarkers, Tumor; Biopsy; Bone Marrow Examination; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Interferon Regulatory Factors; Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute; Male; Middle Aged; Monocyte-Macrophage Precursor Cells; Predictive Value of Tests; Proof of Concept Study; Reproducibility of Results
PubMed: 34172624
DOI: 10.1097/PAS.0000000000001765 -
Annals of Medicine and Surgery (2012) Feb 2023Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) is a rare disease of clonal hematopoietic stem cells with an inherent risk of leukemic transformation, seen in an elderly male.
UNLABELLED
Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) is a rare disease of clonal hematopoietic stem cells with an inherent risk of leukemic transformation, seen in an elderly male.
CASE PRESENTATION
Herein, the authors report a case of CMML in a 72-year-old male who presented with fever and abdominal pain for 2 days with a history of easy fatigability. Examination revealed pallor and palpable supraclavicular nodes. Investigations showed leukocytosis with a monocyte count of 22% of white blood cell count, 17% blast cells in bone marrow aspiration, increased blast/promonocytes, and positive markers in immunophenotyping. The patient is planned for injection of azacitidine, 7 days cycle for a total of six cycles.
CLINICAL DISCUSSION
CMML is classified as overlapping myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasms. It can be diagnosed based on a peripheral blood smear, bone marrow aspiration and biopsy, chromosomal analysis, and genetic tests. The commonly used treatment options are hypomethylating agents like azacitidine and decitabine, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant, and cytoreductive agents like hydroxyurea.
CONCLUSION
Despite various treatment options, the treatment is still unsatisfactory, demanding standard management strategies.
PubMed: 36845813
DOI: 10.1097/MS9.0000000000000198 -
Cytometry. Part B, Clinical Cytometry Nov 2018The purpose of this study was to determine whether immunophenotypic profiles detected by flow cytometry are useful in differentiating chronic myelomonocytic leukemia...
OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study was to determine whether immunophenotypic profiles detected by flow cytometry are useful in differentiating chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) from reactive monocytosis, and between CMML subtypes.
METHODS
Eight-color flow cytometry was used to immunophenotype blasts, monocytes, and granulocytes in the bone marrow of 34 patients with CMML and 12 patients with reactive monocytosis.
RESULTS
Bone marrow myeloblast, promonocyte, and monocyte counts by flow cytometry were significantly higher in the CMML group than in the reactive monocytosis group. Myeloblast aberrancies were present in all CMML patients as compared with 2 of 12 (16.7%) reactive monocytosis patients (P < 0.001). The number of blast aberrancies ranged from one to nine (median, four) in CMML patients and 94.1% of CMML cases exhibited ≥ two aberrancies. In contrast, two reactive monocytosis cases showed only one phenotypic abnormality of blasts. Monocyte and granulocyte aberrancies were present in 26 of 34 (76.5%) and in 31 of 34 (91.2%) CMML patients, respectively. Decreased side scatter (SSC) and abnormal CD11b/CD13/CD16 maturation pattern in granulocytes were more frequent in CMML than in reactive monocytosis. No significant differences in antigen expression were detected between the CMML subtypes except that altered CD45/SSC pattern on the blasts was more commonly observed in CMML-0/1 than in CMML-2.
CONCLUSIONS
CMML has phenotypic aberrancies in monocytes, granulocytes, and more frequently in myeloblasts. Aberrant expression of two or more antigens in myeloblasts by flow cytometry has a high sensitivity (94.1%) and a high specificity (100%) to differentiate CMML from reactive monocytosis. © 2018 International Clinical Cytometry Society.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Female; Flow Cytometry; Humans; Immunophenotyping; Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Chronic; Male; Middle Aged; Monocytes; Young Adult
PubMed: 30334354
DOI: 10.1002/cyto.b.21721 -
Tuberculosis (Edinburgh, Scotland) Jul 2018Tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) complex remains a deadly infectious disease worldwide. Mtb is an intracellular pathogen, and autophagy is an... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
Tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) complex remains a deadly infectious disease worldwide. Mtb is an intracellular pathogen, and autophagy is an essential component of the immune response leading to TB clearance. Anti-TB treatment is based on classical isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RIF), but also new drugs, such as linezolid (LNZ) and bedaquiline (BDQ). However, little is known about these antibiotics' impact on Mtb intra-macrophagic behavior independent of their impact on host cells. We explored the effect of mycobacterial pre-treatment with these four antibiotics on the intra-macrophagic Mtb survival and trafficking, thanks to bacterial counts and microscopy confocal imaging. Our results showed that INH and BDQ impaired Mtb phagosome escape, RIF increased autolysosome formation, and LNZ and BDQ improved autophagy activation and efficacy. These data suggest that antibiotics favoring autophagy activation (LNZ and BDQ) may allowed better Mtb clearance by macrophages and could provide basis for future anti-TB strategies.
Topics: Antitubercular Agents; Autophagy; Diarylquinolines; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; Isoniazid; Linezolid; Macrophages; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Phagosomes; Rifampin; Tuberculosis; U937 Cells
PubMed: 30029917
DOI: 10.1016/j.tube.2018.05.014 -
Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma, and... Dec 2020The T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin-3 (TIM-3)/galectin-9 (Gal-9) autocrine loop is an indispensable signaling in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells, which induces their...
Oridonin Could Inhibit Inflammation and T-cell Immunoglobulin and Mucin-3/Galectin-9 (TIM-3/Gal-9) Autocrine Loop in the Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cell Line (U937) as Compared to Doxorubicin.
The T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin-3 (TIM-3)/galectin-9 (Gal-9) autocrine loop is an indispensable signaling in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells, which induces their self-renewal through activation of nuclear factor-kappa b (NF-kB) and β-catenin pathways. In this study, we evaluated the effects of oridonin and doxorubicin on the TIM-3/Gal-9 autocrine loop. We also evaluated oridonin anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties on U937 cells, as an AML cell line in comparison to doxorubicin as a common anthracycline drug for AML treatment. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) was applied to evaluate the cytotoxicity of oridonin and doxorubicin on U937 cells and also to determine the impact of galectin-9 (Gal-9) on their proliferation. The effects of oridonin and doxorubicin on Gal-9, TIM-3, and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) gene expression were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The Gal-9 secretion level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and activation of NF-kB pathway was assessed by western blotting. In a dose-dependent manner, oridonin and doxorubicin were capable to eradicate U937 cells while Gal-9 expanded them. Following the treatment of U937 cells with oridonin, the expression of Gal-9, TIM-3, and IL-1β genes was down-regulated, and the Gal-9 secretion and NF-kB phosphorylation were diminished, whereas doxorubicin increased all of these factors. Doxorubicin is a common treatment agent in AML, but it may induce inflammation and up-regulate the TIM3/Gal-9 autocrine loop, consequently can enhance the possibility of disease relapse. Meanwhile, oridonin is capable to inhibit the essential signaling pathways in AML cells and reduce the inflammation and expansion of tumor cells and postpone AML recurrence.
Topics: Cell Line, Tumor; Diterpenes, Kaurane; Doxorubicin; Galectins; Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 2; Humans; Immunoglobulins; Inflammation; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; NF-kappa B; Signal Transduction; T-Lymphocytes; U937 Cells
PubMed: 33463129
DOI: 10.18502/ijaai.v19i6.4929 -
European Review For Medical and... Apr 2019The aim of this study was to elucidate the biological function of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) HOTTIP (HOXA transcript at the distal tip) in the development of acute...
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to elucidate the biological function of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) HOTTIP (HOXA transcript at the distal tip) in the development of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and to investigate the potential mechanism.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
Relative expression levels of HOTTIP, microRNA-608 and DDA1 in AML patients were determined by quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Meanwhile, the expressions of these genes in AML cell lines were detected as well. The regulatory effects of HOTTIP, microRNA-608 and DDA1 on the proliferative ability and cell cycle progression of AML cells were examined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and flow cytometry, respectively. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was performed to confirm the binding condition of microRNA-608 to HOTTIP and DDA1. Finally, the specific role of HOTTIP/microRNA-608/DDA1 axis in the development of AML was verified through a series of rescue experiments.
RESULTS
HOTTIP was highly expressed in AML-M5 patients than normal controls. No significant difference in HOTTIP expression was found between patients with other subtypes of AML (M0, M1, M2, M3, M4 and M6) and normal controls. HOTTIP expression was significantly up-regulated in AML cell lines U-937 and THP-1. Up-regulation of HOTTIP remarkably promoted the proliferative potential and cell cycle progression of AML cells. Dual-luciferase reporter gene indicated that HOTTIP could bind to microRNA-608, which was lowly expressed in AML-M5 patients. Overexpression of microRNA-608 significantly inhibited the proliferative ability and cell cycle progression of U-937 and THP-1 cells. More importantly, microRNA-608 could partially reverse the regulatory effect of HOTTIP on AML cells. Meanwhile, DDA1 was verified as the target of microRNA-608. Subsequent experiments elucidated that DDA1 significantly accelerated the proliferation and cell cycle of AML cells. Furthermore, DDA1 could reverse the inhibitory effect of microRNA-608 on proliferative ability and cell cycle progression of AML cells.
CONCLUSIONS
HOTTIP accelerated the proliferative ability and cell cycle of AML cells via up-regulating DDA1 expression by sponging microRNA-608.
Topics: Cell Cycle; Cell Proliferation; DNA-Binding Proteins; Disease Progression; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; MicroRNAs; RNA, Long Noncoding; U937 Cells
PubMed: 31002141
DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_201904_17569 -
MBio Apr 2016As key components of innate immune defense, macrophages are essential in controlling bacterial pathogens, including group A Streptococcus(GAS). Despite this, only a...
UNLABELLED
As key components of innate immune defense, macrophages are essential in controlling bacterial pathogens, including group A Streptococcus(GAS). Despite this, only a limited number of studies have analyzed the recovery of GAS from within human neutrophils and macrophages. Here, we determined the intracellular fate of GAS in human macrophages by using several quantitative approaches. In both U937 and primary human macrophages, the appearance over time of long GAS chains revealed that despite GAS-mediated cytotoxicity, replication occurred in viable, propidium iodide-negative macrophages. Whereas the major virulence factor M1 did not contribute to bacterial growth, a GAS mutant strain deficient in streptolysin O (SLO) was impaired for intracellular replication. SLO promoted bacterial escape from the GAS-containing vacuole (GCV) into the macrophage cytosol. Up to half of the cytosolic GAS colocalized with ubiquitin and p62, suggesting that the bacteria were targeted by the autophagy machinery. Despite this, live imaging of U937 macrophages revealed proficient replication of GAS after GCV rupture, indicating that escape from the GCV is important for growth of GAS in macrophages. Our results reveal that GAS can replicate within viable human macrophages, with SLO promoting GCV escape and cytosolic growth, despite the recruitment of autophagy receptors to bacteria.
IMPORTANCE
Classically regarded as an extracellular pathogen, GAS can persist within human epithelial cells, as well as neutrophils and macrophages. Some studies suggest that GAS can modulate its intracellular vacuole to promote survival and perhaps replicate in macrophages. However, an in-depth single-cell analysis of the dynamics of survival and replication is lacking. We used macrophage-like cell lines and primary macrophages to measure the intracellular growth of GAS at both the population and single-cell levels. While CFU counts revealed no increase in overall bacterial growth, quantitative fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, and time-lapse imaging revealed bacterial replication in a proportion of infected macrophages. This study emphasizes the importance of single-cell analysis especially when studying the intracellular fate of a pathogen that is cytotoxic and displays heterogeneity in terms of intracellular killing and growth. To our knowledge, this study provides the first direct visualization of GAS replication inside human cells.
Topics: Bacterial Proteins; Cytosol; Humans; Macrophages; Microbial Viability; Streptococcal Infections; Streptococcus pyogenes; Streptolysins; U937 Cells; Virulence Factors
PubMed: 27073088
DOI: 10.1128/mBio.00020-16 -
Xi Bao Yu Fen Zi Mian Yi Xue Za Zhi =... Nov 2021Objective To investigate the effect of lncRNA CRNDE on proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle of U937 cells and its mechanism. Methods The expression level of CRNDE in...
Objective To investigate the effect of lncRNA CRNDE on proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle of U937 cells and its mechanism. Methods The expression level of CRNDE in bone marrow cells of AML patients was analyzed by GEPIA database; the mRNA expression levels of miR-136-5p, CRNDE, and minichromosome maintenance 5(MCM5) in AML cell lines were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The lentiviral vector with CRNDE knocked down was constructed and transfected into U937 cells which were randomized into CRNDE knockdown group (sh-CRNDE group) and negative control group (sh-NC group); miR-136-5p mimic and miR-136-5p inhibitor were transfected respectively to overexpress and knock down miR-136-5p in U937 cells which were randomized into miR-136-5p-mimic group, NC-mimic group, miR-136-5p-inhibitor group, and NC-inhibitor group. The effect of CRNDE and miR-136-5p on proliferation was detected by CCK-8 assay and cell counting assay, and the effect of them on cell cycle and apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. The mRNA expressions of miR-136-5p, CRNDE, and MCM5 were detected by qRT-PCR, and the protein expressions of MCM5, Bcl2, cyclin D1, and cyclin A2 were detected by Western blotting. Results CRNDE was highly expressed in the bone marrow and cell lines of AML patients. Knockdown of CRNDE upregulated miR-136-5p, inhibited the MCM5 mRNA and protein expressions and the cell proliferation, promoted the cell apoptosis, and blocked the cell cycle in G1 phase. Overexpression of miR-136-5p also inhibited the expression of MCM5 at both mRNA and protein levels, while knockdown of miR-136-5p reversed those effects. Conclusion CRNDE promotes the proliferation and inhibits the apoptosis of U937 cells by downregulating miR-136-5p and upregulating MCM5.
Topics: Apoptosis; Cell Cycle Proteins; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Humans; MicroRNAs; RNA, Long Noncoding; U937 Cells
PubMed: 34809738
DOI: No ID Found -
Molecular Medicine Reports Feb 2023The cell‑killing potential of most chemotherapeutic agents is enhanced by a temperature elevation. Isofraxidin (IF) is a coumarin compound widely found in plants, such...
The cell‑killing potential of most chemotherapeutic agents is enhanced by a temperature elevation. Isofraxidin (IF) is a coumarin compound widely found in plants, such as the Umbelliferae or Chloranthaceae families. IF induces anticancer effects in lung and colorectal cancer. To the best of our knowledge, the combined effects of hyperthermia (HT) and IF on heat‑induced apoptosis have not been reported. Acute monocytic leukemia U937 cells were exposed to HT with or without IF pre‑treatment. Apoptosis was measured by Annexin V‑FITC/PI double staining assay using flow cytometry and cell viability was observed by cell counting kit assay, DNA fragmentation. The mechanism involved in the combination was explored by measuring changes in the mitochondrial membrane potential, (MMP), intracellular ROS generation, expression of apoptosis related protein, and intracellular calcium ion level. It was demonstrated that IF enhanced HT‑induced apoptosis in U937 cells. The results demonstrated that combined treatment enhanced mitochondrial membrane potential loss and transient superoxide generation increased protein expression levels of caspase‑3, caspase‑8 and phosphorylated‑JNK and intracellular calcium levels. Moreover, the role of caspases and JNK was confirmed using a pan caspase inhibitor (zVAD‑FMK) and JNK inhibitor (SP600125) in U937 cells. Collectively, the data demonstrated that IF enhanced HT‑induced apoptosis via a reactive oxygen species mediated mitochondria/caspase‑dependent pathway in U937 cells.
Topics: Humans; U937 Cells; Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute; Calcium; Apoptosis; Coumarins; Caspases; Reactive Oxygen Species; Oxidation-Reduction; Hyperthermia, Induced; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial
PubMed: 36601752
DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2023.12928