title: Effect of a thymic factor on T lymphocytes in B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia: in vitro and in vivo studies.
abstract: Abnormalities of T lymphocytes in B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) have been extensively documented by several immunologic investigations. Following recent studies pointing to the favorable effect of TP-1, a partially purified extract of calf thymus, on the T cell-mediated immunity of several diseases, including Hodgkin's disease, we have used monoclonal antibodies and the enriched T lymphocytes of 16 untreated B-CLL patients to evaluate the proportion of T cell subsets before and after the administration of TP-1. In addition, the proliferative response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and the helper function in a pokeweed mitogen (PWM) system were assessed. In ten cases, the effect of TP-1 was also studied in vitro by evaluating the same parameters before and after incubation of B-CLL T cells with the drug. The study demonstrated that in vivo administration of TP-1 increases significantly (P less than .001) the proportion of the defective helper/inducer T cell population (OKT4-positive cells) in B-CLL, leading to a near normal OKT4/OKT8 ratio. Furthermore, the improved phenotypic profile was accompanied by an increased proliferative response to PHA and, in particular, by a significant increase (P less than .01) of T helper capacity; this increase was, however, insufficient to enable the normalization of the serum immunoglobulin levels. The in vitro incubation of B-CLL T lymphocytes did not succeed in producing significant modifications in distribution and function.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002417:Cattle; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D013935:Thymic Factor, Circulating / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013951:Thymus Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D013951:Thymus Hormones; D013935:Thymic Factor, Circulating