title: Direct effect of interleukin 2 on chronic lymphocytic leukaemia B cell functions and morphology.
abstract: The functional and morphological changes induced by recombinant interleukin 2 (IL-2) were studied in purified B cells from patients with untreated B chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL). In eight of nine patients, purified B-CLL cells increased their DNA synthesis in response to IL-2 without preactivation in vitro. This response, studied in detail in three patients, was dose dependent and reached a maximum on day 5 or 6. IL-2 induced or increased IgM secretion in cultures from five of the nine patients studied. Two of this responsive group were particularly interesting as IL-2 not only stimulated IgM secretion but also induced the secretion of IgG. Immunoglobulin production was invariably monoclonal. B CLL cells incubated with IL-2 showed distinct morphological changes including an increase in the size of cytoplasm and enlargement of nuclei together with the appearance of nucleoli. These changes were present in all IL-2 treated cultures but were more pronounced in those containing immunoglobulin secreting cells. None of the IL-2 induced changes appeared to correlate with the clinical stage of the disease or the level of Tac antigen expression on the freshly isolated CLL B cells.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains / Q000032:analysis; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology*; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D007376:Interleukin-2