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SummaryFollicular lymphoma (FL) is an indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma of germinal center origin, which presents with significant biologic and clinical heterogeneity. Using RNA-seq on B cells sorted from 87 FL biopsies, combined with machine-learning approaches, we identify 3 transcriptional states that divide the biological ontology of FL B cells into inflamed, proliferative, and chromatin-modifying states, with relationship to prior GC B cell phenotypes. When integrated with whole-exome sequencing and immune profiling, we find that each state was associated with a combination of mutations in chromatin modifiers, copy-number alterations to TNFAIP3, and T follicular helper cells (Tfh) cell interactions, or primarily by a microenvironment rich in activated T cells. Altogether, these data define FL B cell transcriptional states across a large cohort of patients, contribute to our understanding of FL heterogeneity at the tumor cell level, and provide a foundation for guiding therapeutic intervention. Graphical abstract Highlights?B cells from follicular lymphoma exhibit 3 distinct transcriptional states?FL B cells differ by enhanced inflammation, proliferation, or chromatin remodeling?Tumor cell states correlate with unique immune-microenvironment features?Unique mutation and CNV profiles highlight potential genetic causes of heterogeneity Krull et al. analyzed bulk transcriptional, genomic, and immune profiles of B cells from follicular lymphoma and reveal 3 distinct transcriptional states. These cell states underscore the inherent variability of FL tumors, independent of stroma, and implicate intrinsic differences as an underpinning to FL heterogeneity.

BACKGROUND Emerging evidence of antibody-independent functions, as well as the clinical efficacy of anti-CD20 depleting therapies, helped to reassess the contribution of B cells during multiple sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis. OBJECTIVE To investigate whether CD19+ B cells may share expression of the serine-protease granzyme-B (GzmB), resembling classical cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocytes, in the peripheral blood from relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients. METHODS In this study, 104 RRMS patients during different treatments and 58 healthy donors were included. CD8, CD19, Runx3, and GzmB expression was assessed by flow cytometry analyses. RESULTS RRMS patients during fingolimod (FTY) and natalizumab (NTZ) treatment showed increased percentage of circulating CD8+GzmB+ T lymphocytes when compared to healthy volunteers. An increase in circulating CD19+GzmB+ B cells was observed in RRMS patients during FTY and NTZ therapies when compared to glatiramer (GA), untreated RRMS patients, and healthy donors but not when compared to interferon-$\beta$ (IFN). Moreover, regarding Runx3, the transcriptional factor classically associated with cytotoxicity in CD8+ T lymphocytes, the expression of GzmB was significantly higher in CD19+Runx3+-expressing B cells when compared to CD19+Runx3- counterparts in RRMS patients. CONCLUSIONS CD19+ B cells may exhibit cytotoxic behavior resembling CD8+ T lymphocytes in MS patients during different treatments. In the future, monitoring cytotoxic" subsets might become an accessible marker for investigating MS pathophysiology and even for the development of new therapeutic interventions."

Here, we report on the results of a phase I/II trial (NCT00490529) for patients with mantle cell lymphoma who, having achieved remission after immunochemotherapy, were vaccinated with irradiated, CpG-activated tumor cells. Subsequently, vaccine-primed lymphocytes were collected and reinfused after a standard autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). The primary endpoint was detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) within 1 yr after ASCT at the previously validated threshold of ¡Ý1 malignant cell per 10,000 leukocyte equivalents. Of 45 evaluable patients, 40 (89{\%}) were found to be MRD negative, and the MRD-positive patients experienced early subsequent relapse. The vaccination induced antitumor CD8 T cell immune responses in 40{\%} of patients, and these were associated with favorable clinical outcomes. Patients with high tumor PD-L1 expression after in vitro exposure to CpG had inferior outcomes. Vaccination with CpG-stimulated autologous tumor cells followed by the adoptive transfer of vaccine-primed lymphocytes after ASCT is feasible and safe.