Peripheral blood dendritic cell subsets from patients with monoclonal gammopathies show an abnormal distribution and are functionally impaired.
Objectives. The information currently available about dendritic cells (DCs) in patients with different types of monoclonal gammopathy (MG) is limited and frequently controversial. In the present study, we analyzed the ex vivo distribution as well as the phenotypic and functional characteristics of peripheral blood (PB) DCs from different types of MG. Methods. For this purpose, 61 untreated patients in total with MG were analyzed-MG of undetermined significance (MGUS), 29 cases; multiple myeloma (MM), 28 cases; and plasma cell leukemia (PCL), 4 cases-in comparison with a group of 10 healthy controls. Results. Our results show an absolute overall higher number of all subsets of PB DCs in PCL, together with lower numbers of myeloid DCs in MM patients. From a phenotypic point of view, PB DC subsets from all types of MG expressed significantly higher levels of HLA molecules and altered patterns of expression of the CD2, CD11c, CD16, CD22, CD62L, and CD86 molecules, in association with altered patterns of secretion of inflammatory cytokines. Conclusion. In summary, we show the existence of significant abnormalities in the distribution, phenotype, and pattern of secretion of inflammatory cytokines by different subsets of PB DCs from patients with MGs, which could reflect a potentially altered homing of DCs, together with a greater in vivo activation and lower responsiveness of PB DCs, which are already detectable in MGUS patients.
Martín-Ayuso
Marta
M
Servicio de Citometría & Departamento de Medicina, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.
Almeida
Julia
J
Pérez-Andrés
Martín
M
Cuello
Rebeca
R
Galende
Josefina
J
González-Fraile
Maria Isabel
MI
Martín-Nuñez
Guillermo
G
Ortega
Fernando
F
Rodríguez
Maria Jesús
MJ
San Miguel
Jesús F
JF
Orfao
Alberto
A
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007952:Leukemia, Plasma Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D010265:Paraproteinemias / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010641:Phenotype