title: Lymphocyte subpopulations in peripheral blood and bone marrow in patients with idiopathic myelofibrosis.
abstract: In 8 patients with idiopathic myelofibrosis (IM) T and B cells were studied in view of the possibility that immunological dysfunctions are involved in initiating or contributing to the bone marrow fibrosis. In peripheral blood the absolute numbers of E-SRBC and OKT3+ lymphocytes were significantly reduced; in addition a significant decline was observed in the proportion and absolute numbers of OKT8+ cells, resulting in a reversed Leu-3a/OKT8 ratio. An impaired B cell function was observed in 4 of the 8 patients, characterized by a disturbed in vitro pokeweed mitogen stimulated immunoglobulin synthesis and low serum immunoglobulin levels. Immuno-histological studies of the bone marrow demonstrated a scarcity of T cells but normal numbers of B cells. However, no correlation was noted between the observed deviations of B and T cells and the degree of bone marrow fibrosis determined by means of bone marrow histology and serum procollagen-III levels. These data are not sufficient to support the hypothesis that immunological changes in IM are primarily involved in the process of bone marrow fibrosis.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology*; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D055728:Primary Myelofibrosis / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011347:Procollagen / Q000097:blood; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens; D011347:Procollagen