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PubMed1998

Humoral immunity due to long-lived plasma cells.

Conventional models suggest that long-term antibody responses are maintained by the continuous differentiation of memory B cells into antibody-secreting plasma cells. This is based on the notion that plasma cells are short-lived and need to be continually replenished by memory B cells. We examined the issue of plasma cell longevity by following the persistence of LCMV-specific antibody and plasma cell numbers after in vivo depletion of memory B cells and by adoptive transfer of virus-specific plasma cells into naive mice. The results show that a substantial fraction of plasma cells can survive and continue to secrete antibody for extended periods of time (>1 year) in the absence of any detectable memory B cells. This study documents the existence of long-lived plasma cells and demonstrates a new mechanism by which humoral immunity is maintained.

Adoptive Transfer↗

PubMed1977

A simple technique for studying immunoglobulin synthesis by normal and malignant plasma cells in vitro.

Plasma cells from human marrows are saturated with C-14 labelled amino acids, harvested and recultured in unlabelled growth medium. The appearance of radioactivity in the growth medium then provides a simple and rapid measure of protein synthesis. The secreted radio-labelled material is characterized by isoelectric focusing and autoradiography in acrylamide gels, a technique which has advantages over established serological methods.

Autoradiography↗

PubMed2000

Plasma cell polyp of the vocal fold.

Plasma cell polyps of the vocal fold (plasma cell granulomas) are rare inflammatory polyps of the larynx. They should be included in the clinical and histological differential diagnosis of laryngeal polyps. Histologically they are polyclonal aggregates of plasma cells. It is essential to distinguish them from monoclonal, neoplastic plasma cell proliferations. The treatment of choice is surgical resection, although radiotherapy, laser ablation, antibiotics and steroids have been used successfully. We present a case of plasma cell granuloma presenting as a vocal fold polyp, treated surgically.

Aged↗

PubMed1984

T-cell regulation of IgG subclass expression by mitogen-induced plasma cells: soluble factors versus the T cells.

The human IgG subclasses expressed by plasma cells generated from circulating B cells in response to soluble T-cell factors were examined by immunofluorescence using subclass-specific monoclonal antibodies. Soluble T-cell factors were induced by a mixed lymphocyte reaction, pokeweed mitogen (PWM), or phytohemagglutinin. The distribution of IgG subclasses expressed by plasma cells induced by these factors was IgG2 greater than 75%, IgG1 less than 25%, IgG3 less than 1%, and IgG4 less than 1%. On the other hand, IgG1 was dominant when B cells were cultured with T cells and PWM: IgG1 approximately 70%, IgG2 approximately 20%, IgG3 approximately 8%, and IgG4 approximately 1%. The addition of different amounts of the T-cell factors to B cells in culture did not alter the predominance of IgG2 plasma-cell differentiation. These results suggest that T cells and their soluble factors may preferentially enhance terminal differentiation of different IgG B-cell subpopulations. In contrast, the ratio of IgA1 to IgA2 plasma-cell responses was approximately 1.5 to 1 regardless of whether the B-cell precursors were induced by T-cell factors or by the T cells plus PWM.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Primary marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of the lymph node resembling plasmacytoma arising from a plasma cell variant of Castleman's disease. A clinicopathological and immunohistochemical study of seven patients.

Nodal marginal zone B-cell lymphomas (NMZBL) occasionally represent prominent plasma cell differentiation. Recently, we presented a patient with NMZBL who exhibited histological features that resembled plasmacytoma arising from a localized plasma cell variant of Castleman's disease. To further clarify the clinicopathological, immunohistochemical, and genotypical findings, we studied seven such patients. Clinically, these patients were characterized by localized disease and an indolent clinical course with a slowly growing bulky mass in the affected lymph node. Only one patient exhibited paraproteinemia. Histologically, the lesions were characterized by numerous evenly distributed germinal centers in extensive sheets of plasma cells. Various numbers of centrocyte-like (CCL) cells arranged in a marginal zone distribution pattern occupied the peripheral region of the lymph node. The majority of the lymphoid follicles had atrophic or regressive germinal centers. A few lymphoid follicles were colonized by CCL cells. Immunohistochemistry showed that all of the lesions contained a monoclonal plasma cell population. In three tumors, a number of the CCL cells had a similar light chain restriction pattern to that observed in plasma cells. Two of the four patients evaluated exhibited clonal bands for the IgH gene by polymerase chain reaction assay. Moreover, the presence of surface IgM+, IgD- and CD27+ CCL- cells suggests that these tumors are derived from memory B-lymphocytes.

Adult↗

PubMed1986

Human peripheral blood B cell subpopulations: surface IgD+ cells respond to pokeweed mitogen with plasma cell differentiation.

Human peripheral blood (PB) mononuclear cells were depleted of T cells and subsequently of monocytes by counterflow centrifugation. The resulting B cell enriched fraction contained less than 3% T cells, 1 +/- 1% monocytes and 71 +/- 6% B cells. Approximately 56% of the B cells carried surface IgM (sIgM) and sIgD, the remaining 44% carried only one isotype (IgG, IgA, IgM or IgD). Using anti-delta or anti-mu-coated Ox red blood cells (OxRBC) the B cell enriched fraction was separated into a sIgD+ or sIgM+ and sIgD- or sIgM- fraction. The sIgD+ as well as the sIgM+ fraction responded (partially) to pokeweed mitogen (PWM) with plasma cell differentiation into cytoplasmic IgM (cIgM) containing cells. Cytoplasmic IgD+ cells were occasionally found in the sIgD+ or sIgM- fraction, but never in the sIgM+ fraction. Cells containing cIgG or cIgA were only found after stimulation of the sIgM- or sIgD- fraction, the latter also produced cIgM+ cells. In a second separation step of the sIgD- and sIgM- fraction with anti-alpha or anti-gamma-coated OxRBC it was shown that the cIgA+ and cIgG+ cells were derived from B cells expressing only sIgA or sIgG respectively. In conclusion, two major B cell subpopulations can be found in PB: a sIgM+D+ fraction, which gives rise to only cIgM+ plasma cells after PWM stimulation and a second population of B cells which express one heavy-chain isotype on their surface. These cells not only differentiate on PWM stimulation, but they also show a strong proliferative response.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Detection of CD55- and/or CD59-deficient red cell populations in patients with plasma cell dyscrasias.

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is an acquired clonal disorder characterized by a decrease or absence of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored molecules such as CD55 and CD59 from the surface of affected cells, resulting in intravascular hemolysis, cytopenia, and venous thrombosis. A PNH-like phenotype has been detected in various hematological disorders, mainly in aplastic anemia and myelodysplastic syndromes, but also in lymphoproliferative syndromes (LPSs). To the best of our knowledge, CD55- or CD59-deficient red cells have not been detected in plasma cell dyscrasias (PCDs). The aim of this study was the detection of CD55- and/or CD59-deficient red cell populations in patients with PCD. Seventy-seven patients were evaluated; 62 with multiple myeloma (MM), 7 with Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM), 6 with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), and 2 with heavy chain disease (HCD). The sephacryl gel microtyping system was applied; Ham and sucrose lysis tests were also performed on all samples with CD55- or CD59-negative populations. Red cells deficient in both molecules were detected in 10 (12.9%) of 77 patients with PCD: 2 (28.6%) of 7 with WM, 1 (16.6%) of 6 with MGUS, 6 (9.6%) of 62 with MM, and 1 of 2 patients with HCD. Isolated CD55 deficiency was found in 28.5% of all PCD patients, whereas isolated CD59 deficiency was not observed in any patients. These findings illustrate the existence of the PNH phenotype in the red cells of patients with PCD; further investigation is needed into the mechanisms and significance of this phenotype.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

GM1, a ganglioside that specifically enhances immunoglobulin production and proliferation in human plasma cells.

The effects of gangliosides on human plasma cell responses were studied. Among the various gangliosides tested, only GM1 enhanced immunoglobulin (Ig) production and proliferation in the human plasma cell lines, IM-9 and AF-10, while other gangliosides (GM2, GM3, GD1a, GD1b, GD3, GT1b, and GQ1b) had no effect. Among the various cytokines tested, including interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-9, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, interferon (IFN)-alpha and IFN-gamma, only IL-6 enhanced Ig production and proliferation in IM-9 and AF-10 cells. However, the enhancement of plasma cell responses by GM1 was specific and was not mediated by IL-6, since GM1 activity was blocked by anti-GM1 monoclonal antibody (mAb), but not by control IgM, anti-IL-6 Ab or the anti-IL-6 receptor mAb, PM1. Conversely, the enhancement by IL-6 was blocked by anti-IL-6 Ab and PM1, but not by anti-GM1 mAb. GM1, but not other gangliosides, also enhanced Ig production and proliferation in freshly separated plasma cells from patients with plasma cell leukemia and in plasma cells generated in vitro. These actions of GM1 were specifically blocked by anti-GM1 mAb, but not by anti-IL-6 Ab or PM1. These results indicate that GM1 may be an important regulator of plasma cell responses.

Cell Division↗

PubMed2006

The endoplasmic reticulum is a key component of the plasma cell death pathway.

Plasma cells (PC) are the effector cells of the humoral Ab response. Unlike other dedicated secretory cells, they exist as two populations with opposite cell fates: short-lived and long-lived PC. Upon transformation they lead to an incurable neoplasia called multiple myeloma. In this study we have explored the molecular mechanism of PC death. Our data show that their apoptotic pathway is unique among other hemopoietic cells inasmuch as neither the death receptors nor the mitochondria play the central role. PC apoptosis is initiated by activation of Bax at the endoplasmic reticulum membrane and subsequent activation of the endoplasmic reticulum-associated caspase-4 before the release of mitochondrial apoptogenic factors. Together, our observations indicate that the cardinal function of PC (i.e., Ig secretion) is also the cause of their death.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Evidence of abortive plasma cell differentiation in Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg cells of classical Hodgkin lymphoma.

Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells of classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) show genotypic features of germinal centre-derived B-cells in most cases. Nevertheless, these cells typically lack expression of B-cell antigens. Previous studies have suggested that plasma cell differentiation may occur in HRS cells and that this may account for the down-regulation of B-cell antigens. However, these results are controversial. We have addressed this question using immunohistochemistry and a panel of antibodies directed against antigens which are differentially expressed during terminal B-cell differentiation. Pax-5, a transcription factor required for B-lineage commitment, and IRF4/Mum1, which is physiologically expressed in germinal centre cells and plasma cells, were consistently detectable in HRS cells. Bcl-6, a transcription factor expressed in germinal centre B-cells, was present in HRS cells of approximately 25% of cHL cases. Expression of the B-lymphocyte-induced maturation protein-1 (Blimp-1), a key regulator of plasma cell differentiation, was observed in HRS cells of 23% of cHL cases. In these cases, Blimp-1 expression was restricted to a small proportion of HRS cells. HRS cells were consistently negative for the plasma cell marker CD138. These results suggest that plasma cell differentiation may be initiated in a small subset of HRS cells but remains abortive. Thus, terminal differentiation is unlikely to explain the lack of B-cell antigen expression in HRS cells.

Cell Transformation, Neoplastic↗

PubMed2002

Expression of the bcl-2 family of pro- and anti-apoptotic genes in multiple myeloma and normal plasma cells: regulation during interleukin-6(IL-6)-induced growth and survival.

Aberrant expression of genes regulating apoptosis/survival seems to be essential in the stepwise development of human multiple myeloma (MM). In this paper we have compared the expression of bcl-2 family pro- and anti-apoptotic genes in MM cell lines, primary MM cells and normal plasma cells. The Bcl-2, Mcl-1, Bcl-xL/S, Bcl-w, Bax, Bak, and Bad were shown to be expressed in both malignant and non-neoplastic, normal plasma cells. Quantitative analysis revealed that the malignant phenotype seemed to correlate with an elevated expression of Mcl-1, a decreased expression of Bax and, to a lesser extent, an increased Bcl-2/Bax expression ratio. The possible influence of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in regulating the expression of the bcl-2-related genes was also examined. Using the IL-6-dependent MM cell lines U-1958 and U-266-1970 it was clearly shown that IL-6 deprivation induced cell cycle arrest in both cell lines, whereas apoptosis was only detected in the U-1958 cells. Furthermore, the anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2, Mcl-1 and Bcl-xL were down-regulated, while the expression of the pro-apoptotic Bax protein was increased. To conclude, we suggest that the expression pattern of the Bcl-2 family of proteins separates the malignant phenotype of MM from normal plasma cells, and that the protecting effect of IL-6 may be conducted via an altered balance between these proteins.

Cell Division↗

PubMed1978

Establishment of a human plasma cell line in vitro.

A human plasma cell line designated ARH-77 has been established and propagated in culture for the past 2 years. The cells exhibited morphological characteristics of plasma cells under light and electron microscopic examination. An average of 40% cells are positive for immunoglobulin G by direct immunofluorescence, while an immunoglobulin G-specific radioimmunoassay reveals the production of 1.21 X 10(4) ng/10(6) plasma cells. The karyotype is aneuploid with a a modal chromosome number of 45 to 46 and no marker chromosome. Growth kinetics characteristics are: doubling time, 110.4 hr; generation time, 56.4 hr; G1 + G2-phase transit time, 45.5 hr; S-phase transit time, 10.9 hr; growth fraction, 74%; mitotic index, 1.5%; labeling index, 14.3%; and cell loss, 31.0%. Some of the growth kinetics characteristics were markedly similar to the properties displayed in vivo by plasma cells of patients with multiple myeloma and suggest that the cell line might be a useful in vitro model for the study of human myeloma.

Aneuploidy↗

PubMed2002

Global gene expression profiling of multiple myeloma, monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, and normal bone marrow plasma cells.

Bone marrow plasma cells (PCs) from 74 patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM), 5 with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), and 31 healthy volunteers (normal PCs) were purified by CD138(+) selection. Gene expression of purified PCs and 7 MM cell lines were profiled using high-density oligonucleotide microarrays interrogating about 6800 genes. On hierarchical clustering analysis, normal and MM PCs were differentiated and 4 distinct subgroups of MM (MM1, MM2, MM3, and MM4) were identified. The expression pattern of MM1 was similar to normal PCs and MGUS, whereas MM4 was similar to MM cell lines. Clinical parameters linked to poor prognosis, abnormal karyotype (P =.002) and high serum beta(2)-microglobulin levels (P =.0005), were most prevalent in MM4. Also, genes involved in DNA metabolism and cell cycle control were overexpressed in a comparison of MM1 and MM4. In addition, using chi(2) and Wilcoxon rank sum tests, 120 novel candidate disease genes were identified that discriminate normal and malignant PCs (P <.0001); many are involved in adhesion, apoptosis, cell cycle, drug resistance, growth arrest, oncogenesis, signaling, and transcription. A total of 156 genes, including FGFR3 and CCND1, exhibited highly elevated ("spiked") expression in at least 4 of the 74 MM cases (range, 4-25 spikes). Elevated expression of these 2 genes was caused by the translocation t(4;14)(p16;q32) or t(11;14)(q13;q32). Thus, novel candidate MM disease genes have been identified using gene expression profiling and this profiling has led to the development of a gene-based classification system for MM.

Bone Marrow Cells↗

PubMed2003

[Primary plasma cell leukemia. A fulminant case].

Primary plasma cell leukemia is a rare variant of malignant monoclonal gammapathies with de novo presentation in the leukemic phase. Only few series enrolling more than 20 patients have been reported in the literature. The authors deal with a patient who had a fulminant presentation of primary plasma cell leukemia with fatal outcome. Diagnosis of primary plasma cell leukemia was established based on Kyle's criteria, which include an absolute plasma cell count greater than 2 x 10(9)/L or a relative plasma cell number comprising greater than 20% of peripheral blood cells. The patient died within three days of diagnosis because of Streptococcus pneumoniae septic shock and multiple organ failure. This case report is worth of note due to the rarity of primary plasma cell leukemia and also because fulminant presentation is not commonly recognized among patients with malignant gammapathies.

Aged↗

PubMed1991

[A case of plasma cell granuloma with good response to steroid therapy].

A 46-year-old man was admitted with complaints of fever, cough and anterior chest pain. Chest X-ray examination disclosed an infiltrative shadow in the right upper lung field and chest CT scan strongly suggested invasion of mediastinum and anterior chest wall. Therefore, steroid therapy was selected because biopsy specimen showed proliferation of fibroblasts and mononuclear cells mainly containing plasma cells with no evidence of malignancy. After steroid therapy, chest X-ray examination showed that the infiltrative shadow was greatly reduced. However, since infiltrative shadow was increased again at 3 years after the initiation of steroid therapy, right upper lobectomy was performed. Histopathological analysis of resected tumor demonstrated proliferation of mature plasma cells and fibroblasts in conjunction with minor infiltration of neutrophils and lymphocytes. At 18 months after operation, new shadows appeared in right S8 and S10 which were shown to have almost the same histological findings as the resected tumor. Steroid therapy was restarted, and then the size of shadows decreased. It is conceivable that steroid therapy is an effective therapy for pulmonary plasma cell granuloma, especially multifocal and relapsing cases.

Granuloma, Plasma Cell↗

PubMed1977

A human tubular array plasma cell.

A human plasma cell is described which is distinct with both the light and electron microscope. With indirect immunofluorescence its cytoplasm is immunoglobulin-associated and the ultrastructure is characterized by tubular arrays of endoplasmic reticulum similar to those described in a number of diseases. Hypotheses regarding these tubular structures are reviewed.

Aged↗

PubMed1994

A new method for the analysis of plasma cell DNA content in multiple myeloma samples using a CD38/propidium iodide double staining technique.

In the present paper a CD38/propidium iodide double staining technique is described which separately assesses the cell cycle distribution of myelomatous plasma cells from that of the residual normal hemopoietic cells. For this purpose, bone marrow (BM) cells from a group of 42 untreated multiple myeloma patients were analyzed. Of these, 23 cases were aneuploid (55%) and 19 diploid (45%). The use of the CD38/propidium iodide double staining method allowed a clear separation between CD38 strong positive cells from the remaining bone marrow populations, cell sorting experiments confirming that plasma cells were almost exclusively contained in the former fraction where they represented 97 +/- 2% of the total cells sorted. In all cases, the S-phase in plasma cells and in the remaining normal hemopoietic bone marrow cells was assessed, being higher in normal hemopoietic cells (8.0 +/- 6.3%) than in plasma cells (3.3 +/- 2.6%, P < 0.002). In addition, there was no correlation between the S-phase of the neoplastic and normal bone marrow cells (r = 0.22; P > 0.10); this work therefore shows that the assessment of the total proliferative rate of bone marrow samples does not reflect either the proliferation of normal cells or that of neoplastic plasma cells but will depend on the proliferative rate and the percentage of each population within the sample, which can be assessed by the technique described here.

Aged↗

PubMed1985

Favorable response to aggressive chemotherapy in a patient with primary plasma cell leukemia.

Primary plasma cell leukemia was diagnosed in a previously healthy 58-year-old man. The unusual presentation with concomitant multiple osteolytic lesions and hepatosplenomegaly, the favorable response to aggressive chemotherapy with COAP, and the relatively long survival of 22 months prompted this report. This and several other cases recently reported should encourage an aggressive therapeutic approach to this disease.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗