Differences in blood T and NK cell populations between chronic lymphocytic leukemia of B cell type (B-CLL) and monoclonal B-lymphocytosis of undetermined significance (B-MLUS).
T and NK cell blood subpopulations were determined in 33 patients with B-CLL and in 14 patients with B-MLUS by two-color immunofluorescence. CLL patients had significantly higher total numbers of Leu-7+ and CD8+ cells and lower numbers of CD16+/Leu-7- cells as well as a higher Leu-7/CD16 ratio and a lower CD4/CD8 ratio than MLUS patients and control donors. Moreover, MLUS patients exhibited a significantly lower Leu-7/CD16 ratio as well as a higher frequency of CD16+/Leu-7- cells than healthy donors. These results suggest that B-CLL patients have higher numbers of circulating immature NK cells compared to B-MLUS, while B-MLUS patients have a larger proportion of NK cells with a high lytic capability as compared to both CLL and normal controls. The imbalance between CD4+ and CD8+ cells was prominent in CLL with a low CD4/CD8 ratio, but within the upper normal range in MLUS. Differences in immunoregulatory cell subpopulations between B-CLL and B-MLUS might therefore contribute to the different clinical behavior of these two disorders.
Kimby
E
E
Department of Medicine, Danderyd Hospital, Sweden.
Mellstedt
H
H
Nilsson
B
B
Björkholm
M
M
Holm
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000032:analysis / Q000145:classification*; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008218:Lymphocytosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000032:analysis / Q000145:classification*
D000943:Antigens, Differentiation