title: Further evidence for T cell abnormalities in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia of the B cell type.
abstract: Functional properties were studied in the purified T cell fraction of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia of the B cell type (B-CLL). This analysis included the evaluation of T suppressor activity when investigated patients' T cells were co-cultured together with allogenic normal B and OKT4 enriched T cells in the presence of pokeweed mitogen (PWM). The Ig secreting cells (ISC) were assessed in a reverse haemolytic plaque assay (RHPA). Antibody-dependent cytotoxicity (ADCC) and natural killer activity (NK) were determined in a 51Cr release assay. Furthermore, purified T cells reactive with the monoclonal antibody HNK1, known to recognize most effector cells in ADCC and NK, were enumerated using an indirect immunofluorescence. Our results revealed increased T suppressor cell activity and markedly deficient NK activity in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), T cell and T gamma cell fractions from B-CLL patients, whereas ADCC potential was only increased in T cells and T gamma cells. Accordingly, T cells were recognized by HNK1 in greater numbers in B-CLL patients than in healthy subjects. Our data suggest that there may be a link between our findings and the hypogammaglobulinaemia as well as the increased incidence of second neoplasias reported in CLL.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000920:Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells; D001402:B-Lymphocytes; D005260:Female; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal