African Genetic Similarity Is Associated with Reduced Inflammation and Enhanced Adaptive Immunity in Multiple Myeloma.

African genetic similarity (≥50%) in multiple myeloma patients is linked to enhanced adaptive immune responses and reduced inflammation, indicating a distinct immune microenvironment.

• Why it matters: Understanding how genetic ancestry influences the bone marrow immune microenvironment can shed light on disparities in multiple myeloma incidence and progression among different populations.
• What they did: Analyzing 320 myeloma cases, including 64 with high African ancestry, researchers used the Immune Atlas to identify immune cell composition and activity, focusing on adaptive and innate immune features.
• The result: Findings show AFR-High patients have increased cytotoxic T and NK cells, along with immunoregulatory monocyte populations, suggesting a shift toward adaptive immunity that may impact disease outcomes.