Issue Archive

In this timely Blood Spotlight, Arepally and Ortel discuss the latest information about VITT and highlight key “knowns” as well as pertinent “unknowns.” They also review appropriate treatments for this rare, but important complication of adenoviral COVID-19 vaccines.

Given the emerging data on VITT and the pathogenic role played by anti-PF4 antibodies, a critical question becomes, How frequently can anti-PF4 antibodies be detected and how frequently are they pathogenic? Thiele et al studied 281 healthy vaccinees and report positive enzyme immunoassay (EIA) tests for anti-PF4 antibodies in a low percentage (6.8%), with similar frequencies for adenoviral ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine recipients and those who received the mRNA-based BNT162b2 vaccine. They conclude that low-titer EIA positives are common while pathogenic platelet-activating antibodies are rare, cautioning against overinterpretation in the absence of clinical indicators.

Green et al dissected the bone marrow microenvironmental niche, focusing on skeletal cells and their role in hematopoiesis. They demonstrate that flow cytometry can identify 4 subpopulations, each with a distinct function. The Sca1-CD51⁺ cells coexpressing platelet-derived growth factor receptor α (PDGFRα) and PDGFRβ are key supporters of B-cell lymphopoiesis in the marrow.

CD70 is a promising target in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) due to its expression on AML blasts and leukemia stem cells and lack of expression on normal hematopoietic stem cells. CD27 is the ligand for CD70 and can be used in chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) constructs. Sauer and colleagues show that CD27z CAR T cells can effectively eliminate AML cells in vitro and in vivo without affecting normal hematopoiesis in model systems, providing preclinical support for clinical trials.

Prevention of central nervous system (CNS) relapse is critical for pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) regimens, and identification of high-risk patients is necessary to develop nonmorbid strategies to reduce its incidence. Tang and colleagues report a very large comprehensive multicenter trial that identifies novel prognostic and treatment factors related to CNS control in a radiation-free backbone for childhood ALL. Among other factors, use of flow cytometry to evaluate diagnostic cerebrospinal fluid is important for reducing CNS relapse.

In a significant contribution to our understanding of the coagulopathy of severe COVID-19, Wang and colleagues report that a phospholipid-degrading enzyme, acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase), translocates from lysosomes to the plasma membrane of macrophages upon infection with SARS-CoV-2. This enhances tissue factor (TF) procoagulant activity and release of TF-positive extracellular vesicles. These data reveal a new mechanism of TF activation and have potential therapeutic implications.

Tiede and colleagues report 5 cases of patients experiencing the triad of thromboembolism, thrombocytopenia, and anti–platelet factor 4 (PF4) antibodies after vaccination with the Oxford-AstraZeneca adenoviral vector COVID-19 vaccine (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19). They highlight the unusual thrombotic presentation and distinct laboratory features. They further describe treatment for this novel syndrome, now most commonly referred to as vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT).