title: T cell helper defect in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
abstract: Purified peripheral blood T lymphocytes from normal donors were shown to help allogeneic tonsillar B cells to differentiate and secrete specific anti-SRBC antibody in vitro in a plaque-forming assay. Utilizing this system, a comparison was made between the allogeneic helper activity generated by the T cells of normal individuals and patients with various disease states. Allogeneic helper activity was absent when T lymphocytes from patients with CLL were used. Conversely, relatively normal allogeneic helper function was provided by T cells of patients with a variety of other disorders studied. Thus, a functional deficiency was identified in CLL patients in the subpopulation of regulatory T cells responsible for providing helper activity in allogeneic interactions.
mesh_terms: D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody; D002965:Classification; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D006801:Humans; D007141:Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D012397:Rosette Formation; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007141:Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments; D007075:Immunoglobulin M