Issue Archive

Although genetic analysis is beginning to be incorporated into the assessment of myelodysplastic syndromes, the backbone of diagnosis remains assessment of bone marrow morphology. In this Plenary Paper, the authors describe the use of a machine-learning technique to integrate morphology with genomic events to develop distinct profiles with unique clinical profiles and prognosis.

In a Perspective, Venturutti and Melnick propose a novel origin for activated B-cell–type diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (ABC-DLBCLs). They present evidence that ABC-DLBCLs arise from aberrant memory B cells that carry founder mutations that block plasmacytic maturation and, under the influence of recurrent antigen exposure, undergo cyclical reactivation that facilitates both extranodal localization and progressive transformation.

Nucleoporin 98 (NUP98) rearrangements are seen in many hematologic malignancies, especially in poor-risk pediatric leukemia. In this definitive review, the authors discuss the role of NUP98 fusion proteins in transcriptional regulation, their cooccurrence with additional mutations, and prospects for exploiting experimental systems to identify therapeutic entry points for improved treatment of these poor-prognosis malignancies.

The authors report on the outcome of convalescent plasma infusion in 17 patients with persistent COVID-19 in the setting of rituximab-induced severe B-cell depletion. All but 1 patient had clinical improvement accompanied by clearance of the virus.

In a technical tour de force, the authors delineate the localization of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) within the bone marrow microenvironment through extensive examination of bone sections from HSC reporter lines. They elucidate the exact localization of HSCs and their association with heterogeneous niches within the marrow microenvironment.

Monoclonal antibodies targeting CD38 are effective therapy for multiple myeloma. The authors demonstrate that the expression of CD38 is modulated by the bone marrow microenvironment, with interleukin-6 downregulating CD38 expression through JAK-STAT3 signaling and decreasing the cytotoxic effect of daratumumab. JAK-STAT inhibition with ruxolitinib restores daratumumab sensitivity.

Babur et al performed extensive phosphoproteomic analysis of the signaling events in platelet activation mediated by GPVI, cataloguing the extensive signaling relations in this highly regulated network relevant to thrombosis and vascular inflammation.