Characterization of the dendritic cell and monocyte-macrophage system through life: alterations in monoclonal gammopathies

Abstract

[EN] The present doctoral thesis aimed at investigating more in depth the phenotype of blood DC and Mo and their kinetics in human blood vs BM, LN and spleen throughout life, in order to better identify their alterations and clinical correlates in patients with different diagnostic subtypes of PC neoplasms (i.e., MGUS, SMM and MM). In order to accomplish this general goal, we addressed three specific objectives: 1. To analyse the reactivity of different subpopulations of circulating human DCs and Mo in blood for a large panel of new monoclonal antibodies tested as part of the Tenth Human Leucocyte Differentiation Antigen Workshop, in the DC section (HLDA10-DC task); 2. To investigate the distribution of different populations of circulating Mo in CB and PB throughout human life, from newborns to elderly subjects, in order to define normal age- and sex-matched reference ranges and to understand the relationship between the cellular compartments of blood circulating Mo vs BM, LN and spleen Mo/ Mφ. 3. To identify potential alterations in the distribution and phenotype of the different populations of Mo present in the BM and PB of patients with MGUS, SMM and MM and their contribution, together with a broad panel of serum immune-related and bone-associated biomarkers, to the definition of altered cellular and soluble biomarkers profiles of immune-bone interactions, present in patients with different diagnostic subtypes of PC neoplasms.