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Plasma Cell Disorders

Multiple myeloma patients in long-term complete response after autologous stem cell transplantation express a particular immune signature with potential prognostic implication

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 52, pages 832–838 (2017)Cite this article

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Abstract

The proportion of multiple myeloma patients in long-term complete response (LTCR-MM) for more than 6 years after autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is small. To evaluate whether this LTCR is associated with a particular immune signature, peripheral blood samples from 13 LTCR-MM after ASCT and healthy blood donors (HBD) were analysed. Subpopulations of T-cells (naïve, effector, central memory and regulatory), B-cells (naïve, marginal zone-like, class-switched memory, transitional and plasmablasts) and NK-cells expressing inhibitory and activating receptors were quantified by multiparametric flow cytometry (MFC). Heavy/light chains (HLC) were quantified by nephelometry. The percentage of CD4+ T-cells was lower in patients, whereas an increment in the percentage of CD4+ and CD8+ effector memory T-cells was associated with the LTCR. Regulatory T-cells and NK-cells were similar in both groups but a particular redistribution of inhibitory and activating receptors in NK-cells were found in patients. Regarding B-cells, an increase in naïve cells and a corresponding reduction in marginal zone-like and class-switched memory B-cells was observed. The HLC values were normal. Our results suggest that LTCR-MM patients express a particular immune signature, which probably reflects a ‘high quality’ immune reconstitution that could exert a competent anti-tumor immunological surveillance along with a recovery of the humoral immunity.

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Acknowledgements

We thank all patients and clinical staff who made this study possible. We are very grateful to Ana Ramírez and Víctor López for their valuable help with flow cytometry, to Lorena Vega for statistics advice and to Lawrence Baron for his help with the writing. The grants include Grant PI12/00494P and PI15/02085 from the Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias to CMC supported this work. CMC was co-financed by FEDER funds. AAL is supported by a research grant from the JL Castaño Foundation since September 2015. BA and MGP were granted for the Spanish Leukemia and Lyphoma Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Analysis, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Princesa, University Hospital La Princesa, Madrid, Spain

    A Arteche-López & P Sanz Martín

  2. Department of Immunology, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Princesa, University Hospital La Princesa, Madrid, Spain

    A Kreutzman & C Muñoz-Calleja

  3. Department of Hematology, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Princesa, University Hospital La Princesa, Madrid, Spain

    A Alegre, B Aguado & M González-Pardo

  4. Department of Immunology, University Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain

    M Espiño & L M Villar

  5. Department of Hematology, University Hospital La Zarzuela, Madrid, Spain

    D García Belmonte & R de la Cámara

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Correspondence to C Muñoz-Calleja.

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AA is a member of Advisory Boards of Janssen-Cilag, Celgene and Amgen. The remaining authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Arteche-López, A., Kreutzman, A., Alegre, A. et al. Multiple myeloma patients in long-term complete response after autologous stem cell transplantation express a particular immune signature with potential prognostic implication. Bone Marrow Transplant 52, 832–838 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/bmt.2017.29

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