Pinocchio cells: morphologically atypical immunologically heterogeneous lymphocytes induced by treatment with interleukin 2.
We describe a novel cell type, the Pinocchio cell, that appears in the peripheral blood of all patients receiving treatment with interleukin 2, up to 20,000 cells/microliter. This cell is characterized by a prominent and granular proboscis with which it attaches to tumor cells and mediates tumor cell lysis. Pinocchio cells are immunologically heterogeneous and express antigens of both T and NK cells; Pinocchio cells are adherent in culture and are more cytolytic than non-adherent cells against NK-sensitive and resistant tumor cells. Incubation of normal whole human blood for 1 h induces Pinocchio morphology of mononuclear white blood cells.
Paciucci
P A
PA
Mount Sinai Cancer Center, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029.
Chesa
P G
PG
Fierro
M T
MT
Gordon
R
R
Konefal
R G
RG
Glidewell
O
O
Holland
J F
JF
D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002465:Cell Movement; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D007376:Interleukin-2