Abnormal T-cell subpopulation function in CLL: excessive suppressor (T gamma) and deficient helper (T mu) activity with respect to B-cell proliferation.
T-cell function directly influences several B-cell functions. The effect of T-cell subgroups on B-cell function (DNA synthesis) was evaluated for controls and patients with B-cell type of CLL. Control and CLL intact T cells, T cells with receptors for IgG (T gamma), and T cells without Fc receptors at isolation (T non-gamma) were admixed with control B cells. Two predominant differences between control and CLL T cells were observed. First, CLL T gamma cells were excessively effective at suppressing B-cell DNA synthesis, and secondly, control T non-gamma cells were more efficient than CLL T non-gamma at promoting control B-cell DNA synthesis. While it is unclear whether the qualitative and quantitative T-cell abnormalities are part of the CLL disease process, it is possible that excessive T gamma cell numbers and function may reflect an appropriate immune response to a malignant B-cell clone.
D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008211:Lymphocyte Cooperation; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
D004247:DNA