Functional and multimarker analysis of T-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.
The morphology, immunophenotype, cytoenzymatic and functional activities of T lymphocytes from 4 patients with chronic lymphoproliferative disease of T-cell origin were studied. Clonal proliferation was demonstrated by distinctive chromosomal abnormalities involving chromosomes 2 and 14. Patients 1 and 2 were classifiable as OKT4+ T-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (T-CLL) and patient 3 as OKT4+/OKT8+ T-CLL, with helper function in vitro only in patient 1. Patient 4 has low-grade lymphocytosis with benign clinical course, with cells showing morphology of large granular lymphocytes (LGL), and immunophenotype HNK-1+, ER+, Fc gamma receptor+, OKT3+, OKT11+ and OKT8+, as well as natural killer activity, radiosensitive suppressor activity on Ig secretion and responsiveness to PHA; this case was interpreted as LGL leukaemia. This study indicates that a large proportion of cases of true T-CLL may belong to the OKT4 subset, and that extensive investigations should be made of the lymphocytic OKT8+/T gamma forms to characterize them precisely.
Baldini
L
L
Di Padova
F
F
Cortelezzi
A
A
Neri
A
A
Nobili
L
L
Lavezzi
A M
AM
Maiolo
A T
AT
Polli
E E
EE
D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002901:Chromosomes, Human, 13-15; D002905:Chromosomes, Human, 4-5; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal