Increased soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is associated with thrombosis and inhibition of plasmin generation in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) patients

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is an acquired genetic disorder of the bone marrow that produces intravascular hemolysis, proclivity to venous thrombosis, and hematopoietic failure. Mutation in the PIG-A gene of a hematopoietic stem cell abrogates synthesis of glycosylphosphoinositol (GPI) anchors and expression of all GPI-anchored proteins on the surface of progeny erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets. Urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR), a GPI-linked protein expressed on neutrophils, mediates endogenous thrombolysis through a urokinase-dependent mechanism. Here we show that membrane GPI-anchored uPAR is decreased or absent on granulocytes and platelets of patients with PNH, while soluble uPAR (suPAR) levels are increased in patients' plasma. Serum suPAR concentrations correlated with the number of GPI-negative neutrophils and were highest in patients who later develop thrombosis. In vitro, suPAR is released from PNH hematopoietic cells and from platelets upon activation, suggesting that these cells are the probable source of plasma suPAR in the absence of GPI anchor synthesis and trafficking of uPAR to the cell membrane. In vitro, the addition of recombinant suPAR results in a dose-dependent decrease in the activity of single-chain urokinase. We hypothesized that suPAR, prevents the interaction of urokinase with membrane-anchored uPAR on residual normal cells.     

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria: current issues in pathophysiology and treatment

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is an acquired genetic disorder of the bone marrow that produces intravascular hemolysis, proclivity to venous thrombosis, and hematopoietic failure. Mutation in the PIG-A gene in a stem cell aborts synthesis of glycosyl-phosphoinositol (GPI) anchors and therefore expression of all GPI-anchored proteins on the surface of progeny erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets. The hemolytic anemia of PNH is well understood, and erythrocyte susceptibility to complement may be treated with anti-C5a monoclonal antibody. The pathophysiology of PNH cell clonal expansion and its association with immune-mediated marrow failure are not understood, but PNH/aplasia responds to immunosuppressive regimens such as antithymocyte globulin and cyclosporine. The mechanism of thrombosis in PNH is also obscure, but frequently fatal clotting episodes may be prevented by Coumadin (Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Co., Wilmington, DE) prophylaxis.     

阵发性睡眠性血红蛋白尿症患者粒细胞及血浆尿激酶受体的检测

目的了解阵发性睡眠性血红蛋白尿症(PNH)患者体内尿激酶受体(uPAR)的表达水平,并探讨uPAR检测在PNH诊断中的临床意义.方法用流式细胞仪检测20例PNH患者粒细胞表面uPAR、CD55、CD59的表达水平,并与21例正常人、59例其他贫血患者(18例自身免疫溶血性贫血、6例其他溶血性贫血、26例慢性再生障碍性贫血、9例缺铁性贫血)比较;同时采用免疫放射分析(IRMA)测定PNH患者与正常人血浆可溶性uPAR(suPAR)的水平.结果 20例PNH患者中uPAR 、CD55、CD59表达水平显著降低,且与正常人uPAR表达下限不重叠.在PNH患者中还存在峰型异常[双峰和(或)峰拖尾].而57例其他贫血患者中粒细胞表面uPAR的表达水平无改变.PNH患者血浆suPAR水平为(4.04±2.47 )μg/L,明显高于正常人的(1.73±0.96 )μg/L水平(P＜0.01).PNH患者血浆suPAR水平与粒细胞表面uPAR的表达呈负相关(r=-0.79,P＜0.01).结论 PNH患者粒细胞表面uPAR表达水平降低,而血浆suPAR水平增高,这一变化可作为诊断PNH新的特异性指标.     

Varying populations of CD59-negative,partly positive,and normally positive blood cells in different cell lineages in peripheral blood of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria patients

CD59-antigen expression on the surface membranes of erythrocytes, granulocytes, monocytes, lymphocytes, and platelets was determined by flow cytometry in 34 healthy controls and 17 patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). In all PNH patients, CD59-negative erythrocytes accounted for > 10% of the total erythrocyte population. Two erythrocyte populations (CD59-negative and normally positlve or CD59-negative and partly positive), three populations (CD59-negative, partly positive, and normally positive), and one population (CD59-negative) were demonstrated in ten, six, and one patients, respectively. However, CD59-negative granulocytes did not account for > 10% of the total granulocytes in two patients, and one of them had only a CD59 normally positive granulocyte population. A particular granulocyte population extended over both CD59-negative and partly positive areas was shown in two patients. Two populations (CD59-negative and normally positive) and one population (CD59-negatlve) were demonstrated in monocytes and lymphocytes. CD59-negative lymphocytes accounted for >50% of the total lymphocytes in only two patients. Three patients had a CD59 normally positive lymphocyte population. Percentages of CD59-positive platelet population in normal controls were widely various. Therefore, it was usually difficult to discriminate between PNH-affected and normal platelets. Thus, the flow cytometric profiles of CD59-antigen expression varied not only between PNH patients but between cell lineages. The present results and our prior study indicate that CD59 flow cytometry using erythrocytes and granulocytes is most suitable for diagnosing PNH. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Diagnostic significance of measurement of the receptor for urokinase-type plasminogen activator on granulocytes and in plasma from patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is an acquired stem cell disorder characterized by the deficiency of all proteins anchored to the membrane by the glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor. The receptor for urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPAR) also is attached to the cell membrane by a GPI anchor, and that soluble uPAR (suPAR) is present in plasma. In the present study, we measured uPAR, CD55, and CD59 on granulocytes by means of flow cytometry and suPAR in plasma by means of immunoradiometric assay. The subjects were 20 patients with PNH, 59 other patients with anemia, and 21 healthy individuals. In patients with PNH, both the mean fluorescence intensity and the positive percentage of fluorescence-activated granulocytes of uPAR, CD55, and CD59 were remarkably decreased, whereas in patients with other forms of anemia, except 2 patients with aplastic anemia, the results were not altered in comparison with those for the healthy individuals. The level of uPAR was reduced to the same extent as were those of CD55 and CD59 on the PNH-affected granulocytes. Some peak shape abnormalities (double peaks, peak tailing, or both) in the histogram of fluorescence intensity were also found in patients with PNH. The suPAR concentration of PNH plasma was 4.04+/-2.47 ng/mL, which was higher than that of the healthy individuals, 1.73+/-0.96 ng/mL (P < .01). The positive percentage of fluorescence-activated granulocytes was inversely associated with the plasma suPAR level in patients with PNH (r = -0.79, P < .01). Our data suggest that measurement of uPAR on granulocytes by means of flow cytometry and of suPAR in plasma by means of immunoradiometric assay are specific techniques for the diagnosis of PNH.     

Release of C8 binding protein (C8bp) from the cell membrane by phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C

Erythrocytes from patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) are abnormally sensitive to complement. Two membrane proteins, the C8 binding protein (C8bp) and the decay accelerating factor (DAF), which are expressed on normal cells, function to restrict lysis by homologous complement, and both of these proteins are absent from PNH erythrocytes. DAF is anchored to the plasma membrane on normal cells by a phosphatidylinositol linkage. The investigators found that a purified phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C cleaved C8bp from the surface of normal lymphocytes and monocytes. This finding indicates that the abnormal complement sensitivity of PNH erythrocytes arises from a common defect, the inability to attach the phosphatidylinositol- containing anchor that is necessary for the membrane expression of both membrane complement regulatory proteins, the C8bp, and DAF.     

Transfer of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins to deficient cells after erythrocyte transfusion in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria

In paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), an acquired mutation of the PIGA gene results in the absence of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored cell surface membrane proteins in affected hematopoietic cells. Absence of GPI-anchored proteins on erythrocytes is responsible for their increased sensitivity to complement-mediated lysis, resulting in hemolytic anemia. Cell-to-cell transfer of CD55 and CD59, 2 GPI-anchored proteins, by red cell microvesicles has been demonstrated in vitro, with retention of their function. Because red cell units stored for transfusion contain many erythrocyte microvesicles, transfused blood could potentially serve as a source of CD55 and CD59. We examined whether GPI-anchored proteins could be transferred in vivo to deficient cells following transfusions given to 6 patients with PNH. All patients were group A(1) blood type. Each was given transfusions of 3 U of compatible, washed group O blood. Patient group A(1) cells were distinguished from the transfused group O cells by flow cytometry and staining with a labeled lectin, Dolichos biflorus, which specifically binds to group A(1) erythrocytes. Increased surface CD59 was measured on recipient red cells and granulocytes 1, 3, and 7 days following transfusion in all 6 patients. Our data suggest a potential therapeutic role for GPI-anchored protein transfer for severe PNH.     

Resistance of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria cells to the glycosylphosphatidylinositol-binding toxin aerolysin

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a clonal stem cell disorder caused by a somatic mutation of the PIGA gene. The product of this gene is required for the biosynthesis of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchors; therefore, the phenotypic hallmark of PNH cells is an absence or marked deficiency of all GPI-anchored proteins. Aerolysin is a toxin secreted by the bacterial pathogen Aeromonas hydrophila and is capable of killing target cells by forming channels in their membranes after binding to GPI-anchored receptors. We found that PNH blood cells (erythrocytes, lymphocytes, and granulocytes), but not blood cells from normals or other hematologic disorders, are resistant to the cytotoxic effects of aerolysin. The percentage of lysis of PNH cells after aerolysin exposure paralleled the percentage of CD59(+) cells in the samples measured by flow cytometry. The kinetics of red blood cell lysis correlated with the type of PNH erythrocytes. PNH type III cells were completely resistant to aerolysin, whereas PNH type II cells displayed intermediate sensitivity. Importantly, the use of aerolysin allowed us to detect PNH populations that could not be detected by standard flow cytometry. Resistance of PNH cells to aerolysin allows for a simple, inexpensive assay for PNH that is sensitive and specific. Aerolysin should also be useful in studying PNH biology.     

Microvascular Thrombosis in the Hepatic Vein of a Patient with Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is characterized by complement-mediated hemolysis, venous thrombosis, and bone marrow failure. In May 2003, a 33-year-old man was admitted to a hospital with right hypochondralgia and fever. He had a history of aplastic anemia. The patient's diagnosis of diffuse microvessel thrombosis in the hepatic vein due to an unknown cause was derived from the findings of a contrast-enhanced computed tomography examination of the abdominal region, angiographic evaluation of abdominal vessels, and pathohistologic examination of a liver biopsy sample. The patient was subsequently treated with warfarin. The abdominal pain and fever continued, however, and anemia gradually appeared. In April 2004, the patient was referred to our hospital to examine the cause of the thrombosis. On admission, slight anemia and a low serum haptoglobin level were observed. A flow cytometry evaluation of CD55 and/or CD59, CD59, and CD48 expression in erythrocytes, granulocytes, and monocytes, respectively, showed that the respective proportions of negative populations were 5.6%, 97.1%, and 96.2%. The patient then received a diagnosis of aplastic anemia/PNH syndrome, which had caused the hemolytic anemia and thrombosis, although no hemoglobinuria had been observed during his clinical course. This patient is, to our knowledge, the first reported case of a PNH patient with thrombosis present only in hepatic microvessels and not in hepatic large vessels, in spite of the presence of few hemolytic events.     

Treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria is an acquired clonal disorder of the hematopoietic stem cell in which intravascular hemolysis is due to an intrinsic defect in the membrane of red cells that makes them increasingly susceptible to lysis by complement. The phenotypic hallmark of PNH cells is an absence or marked deficiency of GPI-anchored proteins such as CD 59+, CD 55+ and others which normally protect cells from the action of complement. PHN is closely associated with aplastic anemia. Some degree of bone marrow failure is always present. Management of PNH is complicated by a highly variable clinical picture and course. Some patients have severe anemia aggravated by hemolytic crises and associated thromboses. Bone marrow failure is accompanied with frequent infections and hemorrhagic manifestations due to thrombocytopenia. With the exception of marrow transplantation, no definite therapy is available. In the exceptional circumstance in which the patient has a syngeneic twin, bone marrow transplantation is the most appropriate therapy for severe PNH because of absence of graft-versus-host disease. In general syngeneic transplantation without preconditioning has been unsuccessful because abnormal hematopoiesis returns. Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation has been used, but the transplant-associated morbidity and mortality are high due mainly to the fatal graft-versus-host disease and severe posttransplant marrow failure. Use of an unrelated donor transplant has to be considered as contraindicated. PNH is associated with striking predisposition to intravascular thrombosis which often involves the portal system or the brain. Fatal thromboses account for about 40-50% of all deaths in patients with PNH. The etiology of the thrombophilia in PNH is not fully clarified. Anticoagulation or thrombolytic therapy is required for treatment of venous thrombosis, the latter vena cava. Prophylactic anticoagulation in patients without contraindications such as severe thrombocytopenia seems to be justified. However, whether such therapy may be efficacious in reducing the incidence of thromboses or affect survival is conjectural. PNH patients have varying degree of platelet activation and some authors suggest that antiplatelet therapy might be efficacious in reducing the incidence and severity of venous thrombosis in PNH. Pregnancy is hazardous. Female patients should avoid the use of oral contraceptives. Pregnant patients require combined care of an experienced hematologist and obstetrician specialized in the management of high-risk pregnancies.     

Aplastic anaemia and paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria: a study of the GPI-anchored proteins on human platelets

Twenty-six consecutive patients with acquired aplastic anaemia (AA) and nine patients with de novo paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) were included in this study. In these 35 patients a GPI-anchored molecule defect at the platelet surface was investigated by flow-cytometry. Platelets from eight out of the nine patients with de novo PNH were found to be deficient for the GPI-anchored molecule CD55, CD58 and CD59. We also detected a GPI-anchored molecule defect on monocytes, granulocytes, and erythrocytes in all patients with de novo PNH. Among the 26 AA patients, a GPI defect was detected on platelets in five patients. Interestingly, these five patients were also found to have a GPI-anchored molecule defect on erythrocytes, whereas in 10 patients the GPI-anchored molecule defect was only detected on monocyte and polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells.     

Intracellular localization of glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-anchored CD67 and FcRIII (CD16) in affected neutrophil granulocytes of patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria.

Immunoelectron microscopical studies performed in healthy human neutrophils showed the presence of glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI)-linked CD67 in granules. The use of immunogold double-labeling of CD67 and lactoferrin (LF; as marker for specific granules) or CD67 and myeloperoxidase (MPO; as marker for azurophilic granules) showed that CD67 occurred only in the specific granules. Furthermore, flow cytometry showed that CD67 has a low level of expression on the plasma membrane of these cells. In paroxsymal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)-affected neutrophils, CD67 was not detected in any intracellular compartment by immunoelectron microscopy, and flow cytometry showed no CD67 on the plasma membrane. In earlier studies, FcRIII was found on the plasma membrane, in electron-lucent vesicles, and in the Golgi complex of healthy neutrophils, and in the Golgi complex of some of the PNH-affected neutrophils. Here we have studied FcRIII in PNH-affected cells of three other patients and found, by immunoelectron microscopy, that the receptor can not be detected in these cells. However, flow cytometry showed that FcRIII was not completely absent on the plasma membrane of the affected cells, but that the level of expression on these cells was low. Thus, PNH patients can differ from one another with respect to the occurrence of affected neutrophils that have a detectable level of FcRIII in the Golgi complex. In summary, these findings show not only that the expression of the two GPI-linked proteins, CD67 and FcRIII, is markedly lower on the plasma membrane, but also that neither occurred in any of the intracellular compartments of affected neutrophils of the PNH patients examined in this study.     

Molecular Pathogenesis of Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), although named for its marked fluctuations in the visibility of hemoglobinuria, is now classified as an acquired hematopoietic stem cell disorder. The clinical manifestations of PNH are very complicated, and include intravascular hemolytic anemia, venous thrombosis in unusual sites (abdomen, liver, cerebrum), deficient hematopoiesis, evolution to leukemia, and susceptibility to infection [1, 2]. The intravascular hemolysis is attributed to the enhanced susceptibility of erythrocytes to autologous complement [3]. The abnormal sensitivity is explained by a lack of complement regulatory membrane proteins such as decay-accelerating factor (DAF, CD55) and membrane inhibitor of reactive lysis (MIRL, CD59), which are covalently linked to the erythrocyte membrane through a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor. The deficiency of the membrane proteins is caused by a synthetic defect in this anchor caused by impaired transfer of N- acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) to phosphatidylinositol (PIns) [2]. Mutations of the phosphatidylinositol glycan class A (PIG-A) gene have been shown to contribute this abnormality in nearly all patients with PNH studied to date [4]. Recently, several reviews have been presented on various aspects of PNH [5–10]. This review focuses particularly on the recent elucidation of the molecular pathogenesis of GPI-anchor deficiency on PNH and related hematopoietic stem cell disorders.     

The PIG-anchoring defect in NK lymphocytes of PNH patients.

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is clinically characterized by intravascular hemolysis, hemoglobinuria, iron deficiency anemia, and venous thrombosis. Pathophysiologically the disease has now been generally accepted as an acquired defect of phosphatidylinositol glycan (PIG)-anchored molecules on the cell surface of bone marrow-derived cells. This defect is functionally characterized by an abnormal susceptibility to complement-mediated lysis and has been described on erythrocytes, granulocytes, monocytes, and platelets. In contrast, contradictory data exist so far on the involvement of lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells. Using monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) against newly defined PIG-linked surface structures such as CD48, CD55, and CD59, which are homogeneously expressed on lymphocytes of normal donors, we analyzed lymphocytes and their subpopulations in nine PNH patients by two color immunofluorescence. Our results showed that CD3+ T cells as well as CD16+ NK cells are at least partially involved in the deficient PIG-molecule surface expression. To more clearly define the defect in PNH, we generated NK clones from a PNH patient. Phenotypic analysis of these NK clones showed that they either were positive (n = 3) for PIG-linked surface structures such as CD48, CD55, and CD59 (eg, NKP1) or were completely negative (n = 7) for all of them (eg, NKP1). In functional tests the PIG-molecule negative clone NKP2 showed increased susceptibility to human complement compared with the PIG molecule positive clone NKP1. When analyzing the mRNA levels of the PIG-linked molecules CD55 and CD59 there was no difference at all between the two clones. We conclude from our data that NK cells as well as other lymphocyte subpopulations are involved in the PIG-linkage defect of PNH. These NK clones with differential expression of PIG-linked surface structures present for the first time ex vivo mutant cell lymphocyte lines that carry the defect leading to PIG deficiency in PNH.     

Mechanism of intravascular hemolysis in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) hemolysis requires both intravascular complement activation and affected erythrocytes susceptible to complement. This susceptibility is explained by a deficiency in complement regulatory membrane proteins that are attached to the membrane by a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor. Affected cells lack a series of GPI-anchored membrane proteins with various functions. The lack is caused by a synthetic defect of the anchor due to an impaired transfer of N-acetylglucosamine to phosphatidylinositol which is an early metabolic precursor in the anchor synthesis. Moreover, PIG-A gene responsible for the membrane defect was recently cloned. Further, a possible mechanism of complement activation has been proposed, especially for an infection-induced hemolytic precipitation which is clinically crucial. Thus, the molecular events, leading to intravascular hemolysis characteristic of PNH, has been virtually clarified. Next major concern is the nature of PIG-A: How does PIG-A explain the complex pathophysiology of PNH which exhibits various clinical manifestations? © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Complement-induced vesiculation and exposure of membrane prothrombinase sites in platelets of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is an acquired stem-cell disorder in which the glycolipid-anchored membrane proteins, including the cell-surface complement inhibitors, CD55 and CD59, are partially or completely deleted from the plasma membranes of mature blood cells. To gain insight into the pathogenesis of thrombosis that is frequently observed in this disorder, the procoagulant responses of PNH platelets exposed to the human terminal complement proteins C5b-9 were investigated. C5b-9 complexes were assembled on gel-filtered platelets by incubation with purified C5b6, C7, C9, and limiting amounts of C8. Platelet microparticle formation and exposure of plasma membrane- binding sites for coagulation factor Va were then analyzed by flow cytometry. PNH platelets exhibiting undetectable levels of surface CD59 antigen showed an approximately 10-fold increase in sensitivity to C5b- 9-stimulated expression of membrane-binding sites for factor Va when compared with platelets from normal controls. Expression of catalytic surface for the prothrombinase complex (VaXa) paralleled the exposure of factor Va-binding sites; the rate of prothrombin conversion by C5b-9- treated PNH platelets exceeded that of C5b-9-treated normal controls by approximately 10-fold at the maximal input of C8 tested (500 ng/mL). These data indicate that PNH platelets deficient in plasma membrane CD59 antigen are exquisitely sensitive to C5b-9-induced expression of prothrombinase activity, and suggest that the tendency toward thrombosis in these patients may be due, at least in part, to the deletion of this complement inhibitor from the platelet plasma membrane.     

Pathophysiology,diagnosis, and treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria: a review

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is an acquired disorder of the hematopoietic stem cell that makes blood cells more sensitive to the action of complement. Patients experience intravascular hemolysis, smooth muscle dystonia, renal failure, arterial and pulmonary hypertension, recurrent infectious diseases and an increased risk of notably dreadful thrombotic complications. The diagnosis is made by flow cytometry. Efforts have been recently performed to improve the sensitivity and the standardization of this technique. PNH is frequently associated with aplastic anemia or low‐risk myelodysplasia and may be asymptomatic. Management of the classical form of PNH has been dramatically revolutionized by the development of eculizumab, which brings benefits in terms of hemolysis, quality of life, renal function, thrombotic risk, and life expectancy. Prophylaxis and treatment of arterial and venous thrombosis currently remain a challenge in PNH.     

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria cells in patients with bone marrow failure syndromes.

BACKGROUND: Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is an acquired hematopoietic stem-cell disorder in which the affected cells are deficient in glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins. Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria is frequently associated with aplastic anemia, although the basis of this relation is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To assess the PNH status of patients with diverse marrow failure syndromes. DESIGN: Correlation of cytofluorometric data with clinical features. SETTING: Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Bethesda, Maryland. PATIENTS: 115 patients with aplastic anemia, 39 patients with myelodysplasia, 28 patients who had recently undergone bone marrow transplantation, 18 patients with cancer that was treated with chemotherapy, 13 patients with large granular lymphocytosis, 20 controls who had received renal allografts, and 21 healthy participants. INTERVENTION: Patients with aplastic anemia, myelodysplasia, or renal allografts received antithymocyte globulin. MEASUREMENTS: Flow cytometry was used to assess expression of GPI-anchored proteins on granulocytes. RESULTS: Evidence of PNH was found in 25 of 115 (22%) patients with aplastic anemia. No patient with normal GPI-anchored protein expression at presentation developed PNH after therapy (n = 16). Nine of 39 (23%) patients with myelodysplasia had GPI-anchored protein-deficient cells. Abnormal cells were not detected in patients with constitutional or other forms of bone marrow failure or in renal allograft recipients who had received antithymocyte globulin. Aplastic anemia is known to respond to immunosuppressive therapy; in myelodysplasia, the presence of a PNH population was strongly correlated with hematologic improvement after administration of antithymocyte globulin (P = 0.0015). CONCLUSIONS: Flow cytometric analysis is superior to the Ham test and permits concomitant diagnosis of PNH in about 20% of patients with myelodysplasia (a rate similar to that seen in patients with aplastic anemia). The presence of GPI-anchored protein-deficient cells in myelodysplasia predicts responsiveness to immunosuppressive therapy. Early emergence of GPI-anchored protein-deficient hematopoiesis in a patient with marrow failure may point to an underlying immune pathogenesis.     

The use of monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry in the diagnosis of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria

We have characterized the erythrocytes, granulocytes, and platelets of 54 patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) with antibodies to glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins (anti- CD55, anti-CD59, and anti-CD16) and flow cytometry to establish the usefulness of this technique in the diagnosis of this disorder. All patients demonstrated either completely (PNH III) or partially (PNH II) deficient red cells and granulocytes. Anti-CD59 best demonstrated PNH II red cells, which were present in 50% of the patients. The proportion of abnormal granulocytes was usually greater than the proportion of abnormal red cells; 37% of the patients had >80% abnormal granulocytes. Anti-CD55 did not delineate the erythrocyte populations as well as did anti-CD59. Either anti-CD55 or anti-CD59 could be used equally well to analyze granulocytes; anti-CD16 did not demonstrate cells of partial deficiency. Platelets could not be used for detailed analysis as the normal and abnormal populations were not well distinguished. Flow cytometry of erythrocytes using anti-CD59 or of granulocytes using either anti-CD55 or anti-CD59 provides the most accurate technique for the diagnosis of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria; it is clearly more specific, more quantitative, and more sensitive than the tests for PNH that depend upon hemolysis by complement (the acidified serum lysis [Ham] test, the sucrose lysis test, and the complement lysis sensitivity [CLS] test).     

Aplastic anemia and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria: search for a pathogenetic link

The association of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and aplastic anemia (AA) raises the yet unresolved questions as to whether these two disorders are different forms of the same disease. We compared two groups of patients with respect to cytogenetic features, glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-linked protein expression, protein C/protein S/thrombomodulin/antithrombin III activity, and PIG-A gene expression. The first group consisted of eight patients with PNH (defined as positive Ham and sucrose tests at diagnosis), and the second, 37 patients with AA. Twelve patients with AA later developed a PNH clone. Monoclonal antibodies used to study GPI-linked protein expression (CD14 [on monocytes], CD16 [on neutrophils], CD48 [on lymphocytes and monocytes], CD67 [on neutrophils and eosinophils], and, more recently, CD55, CD58, and CD59 [on erythrocytes]) were also tested on a cohort of 20 normal subjects and five patients with constitutional AA. Ham and sucrose tests were performed on the same day as flow- cytometric analysis. Six of 12 patients with AA, who secondarily developed a PNH clone, had clinical symptoms, while all eight patients with PNH had pancytopenia and/or thrombosis and/or hemolytic anemia. Cytogenetic features were normal in all but two patients. Proteins C and S, thrombomodulin, and antithrombin III levels were within the normal range in patients with PNH and in those with AA (with or without a PNH clone). In patients with PNH, CD16 and CD67 expression were deficient in 78% to 98% of the cells and CD14 in 76% to 100%. By comparison, a GPI-linked defect was detected in 13 patients with AA, affecting a mean of 32% and 33% of CD16/CD67 and CD14 cell populations, respectively. Two of three tested patients with PNH and 1 of 12 patients with AA had a defect in the CD48 lymphocyte population. In a follow-up study of our patient cohort, we used the GPI-linked molecules on granulocytes and monocytes investigated earlier and added the study of CD55, CD58, and CD59 on erythrocytes. Two patients with PNH and 14 with AA were studied for 6 to 13 months after the initial study. Among patients with AA, four in whom no GPI-anchoring defect was detected in the first study had no defect in follow-up studies of all blood-cell subsets (including erythrocytes). Analysis of granulocytes, monocytes, and erythrocytes was performed in 7 of 13 AA patients in whom affected monocytes and granulocytes were previously detected. A GPI-anchoring defect was detected on erythrocytes in five of six.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)