title: Colony formation and interleukin 2 production by leukaemic human T cells.
abstract: PHA-induced colony formation and interleukin 2 (IL-2) production were studied in four patients with T cell leukaemia (three cases OKT4+/T helper and one case OKT8+/T cytotoxic suppressor). Cases of T helper cell leukaemia showed colony formation that was comparable to normal purified blood T cells and was not dependent on the addition of conditioned medium, containing IL-2 activity, to cultures. In contrast the T suppressor cell leukaemia formed colonies only when cultures were supplemented with IL-2 containing medium. When IL-2 production by PHA stimulated cells was measured culture supernatants from the three T helper cell leukaemias all showed normal or high levels of activity, when compared to normal blood mononuclear cells, whereas the T suppressor cell leukaemia showed no activity.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003114:Colony-Forming Units Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007938:Leukemia / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007376:Interleukin-2; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins