title: Clonal cell surface structures related to differentiation, activation and homing in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia and monoclonal lymphocytosis of undetermined significance.
abstract: Cell surface structures related to differentiation, activation and "homing" were identified on the leukemic cell clone in blood of 64 patients with a monoclonal B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder. Patients were selected with regard to clinical signs and symptoms of the disease. 39 patients had progressive chronic lymphocytic leukemia of B-cell type (B-CLL): 16 with lymph node enlargement and 14 with progressive lymphocytosis as the most prominent symptom, respectively. 1 patient had an isolated splenomegaly and 8 had symptoms from enlarged lymph nodes, lymphocytosis and/or splenomegaly. 25 patients had an isolated monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis in blood and bone-marrow but no other signs or symptoms of the disease. The lymphocytosis in these patients was considered to be of "undetermined significance" and the term B-cell lymphocytosis of undetermined significance (B-MLUS) was used. Patients with a prominent lymphadenopathy and/or splenomegaly had CD22+ leukemic cells while in patients with a progressive lymphocytosis the B-cell clone expressed Leu-8. Thus, CD22 might be related to the homing capacity of B lymphocytes for lymphnodes and spleen, while Leu-8 might define a circulating B-cell subset. In B-MLUS about 50% of the monoclonal B cells co-expressed Leu8 which is consistent with a more differentiated phenotype compared to B-CLL with progressive lymphocytosis. The CD22 expression was mostly low in B-MLUS although a few patients showed high values. The expression of receptors for growth factors (CD23, CD25, CD71) was higher in B-CLL compared to B-MLUS patients (p less than 0.001), which is consistent with a difference in lymphocyte activation stage and/or response to growth factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kimby
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mellstedt
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Björkholm
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Holm
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000276:immunology*; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D008218:Lymphocytosis / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell