title: Evidence for the interleukin-2 dependent expansion of leukemic cells in adult T cell leukemia.
abstract: Interleukin 2 (IL-2) receptor/Tac antigen is abnormally expressed on cells of patients with adult T cell leukemia (ATL) caused by infection with human T lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I). Twenty-five patients with ATL were examined to determine whether their leukemic cells continued to show IL-2-dependent proliferation. In 21 patients, the in vitro proliferation of HTLV-I-infected nonleukemic T cell clones was found to be dependent on IL-2. However, clonality analysis based on T cell receptor gene rearrangement profiles and the site of HTLV-I provirus integration revealed IL-2-dependent growth in leukemic cells in four patients with ATL. These results provide evidence for the IL-2-dependent proliferation of leukemic cells in some ATL patients.
mesh_terms: D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004247:DNA / Q000097:blood; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000187:drug effects; D006800:Deltaretrovirus Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007938:Leukemia / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D010641:Phenotype; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology*; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D004247:DNA