B cells from chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients are strong inducers of proliferation and major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-unrestricted [natural killer (NK)-like] cytotoxicity in normal T-lymphocytes.
We studied the ability of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) B cells to stimulate proliferation and major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-unrestricted [natural killer (NK)-like] cytotoxicity in a mixed lymphocyte tumor-cell culture (MLTC). CLL-derived B cells induced a significantly higher proliferative response than did B cells from healthy normal donors. Comparable levels of interferon and interleukin-2 production were detected in the mixed lymphocyte cultures (MLC) set up with normal B cells from healthy donors and in MLTC. Higher levels of NK-like cytotoxic activity were induced after stimulation with CLL than with normal B cells in nonlytic precursors. Inhibition experiments with specific monoclonal antibodies indicate that the NK-like response in MLTC is attributable to HLA class II antigens, which are expressed at comparable levels on CLL and normal B cells. Percoll gradient centrifugation of the MLC and MLTC recovered cells demonstrated that the NK-like effectors in both types of cultures were blast-transformed, highly mitotic cells.
Matera
L
L
Istituto di Medicina Interna, Ospedale San Giovanni Battista di Torino, Italy.
Foa
R
R
Massaia
M
M
Giovarelli
M
M
Veglia
F
F
Cesano
A
A
Lusso
P
P
Piazza
A
A
Santoli
D
D
D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000528:radiation effects; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005720:Gamma Rays; D006681:HLA-D Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000502:physiology; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D016685:Mitomycin; D008937:Mitomycins / Q000494:pharmacology; D010641:Phenotype
D006681:HLA-D Antigens; D007376:Interleukin-2; D008937:Mitomycins; D016685:Mitomycin; D007372:Interferons