CD16+ NK lymphoproliferative disorders: cellular and molecular characterization.
We studied the mononuclear cells obtained from 2 patients with CD16+ lymphoproliferative disorders. In both subjects, over 80% of the circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells were CD16+, CD2+, CD7+, CD3-, CD4-, and CD8-. In 1 patient, greater than 60% of the cells expressed HLA-DR and HLA-DQ gene products. Functional analysis of the natural killer (NK) cell activity of cells from this patient demonstrated 76% killing of K562 targets at ratios as low as 1:1 effector:targets. Karyotype analysis demonstrated a deletion on the long arm of chromosome 6, supporting the contention that the lymphocytosis in this patient was due to a clonally expanded population of cells. In additional studies, Southern blot analysis of DNA extracted from cells of this patient revealed that the beta-chain of the T cell receptor was of germ line configuration. This information supports the hypothesis that the clonally expanded NK population in this patient is of a lineage distinct from T cells and represents a true NK leukemia.
D000368:Aged; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D005796:Genes; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007621:Karyotyping; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000473:pathology*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D008222:Lymphokines; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D007371:Interferon-gamma