title: T lymphocyte subsets and colony growth in hairy-cell leukemia.
abstract: The distribution of T cell subsets and the T colony-forming capacity were assessed in 22 patients with hairy-cell leukemia. An overall increase in the proportion of T gamma cells (31 +/- 15%) and a decrease in Tmu cells (38 +/- 11%) were observed if compared with normal controls (16 +/- 6% for T gamma and 51 +/- 13% for Tmu). In half of the patients, however, these values were normal. T gamma cells were highest in the splenectomized patients and in the 15 non-splenectomized patients T gamma cells were higher in those with active disease. Patients with stable disease or in remission had values close to normal. The T colony-forming capacity of unseparated and enriched T lymphocytes was normal regardless of the T cell subset distribution and clinical stage of the disease. These findings suggest that in HCL, unlike B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia, the imbalance in Tmu/T gamma ratio does not result in an impairment of the in vitro T colony-forming capacity.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003114:Colony-Forming Units Assay; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000378:metabolism; D007943:Leukemia, Hairy Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D011817:Rabbits; D011961:Receptors, Fc / Q000032:analysis; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000032:analysis; D012397:Rosette Formation; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification* / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D011961:Receptors, Fc; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic