title: Lymphocyte response to pokeweed mitogen in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
abstract: The response of lymphocyte subpopulations to pokeweed mitogen (PWM) was studied in normal volunteers and patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Since unfractionated peripheral blood mononuclear (PBM) cells from CLL patients consist of a markedly increased proportion of B-lymphocytes and a decreased proportion of T-lymphocytes, enriched fractions of CLL B-cells and CLL T-cells were cultured in 1:1 proportions in autologous and allogeneic combinations with normal B-cell and T-cell-enriched fractions. Cultures containing normal B-cells with either autologous or allogeneic normal T-cells responded well to PWM. CLL T-cells were capable of providing a helper function for both proliferation and differentiation of normal B-cells, which was not significantly different from that provided by allogeneic normal T-cells. CLL B-lymphocytes were unresponsive to PWM when cultured in the presence of either autologous CLL T-lymphocytes or allogeneic normal T-lymphocytes. The responsiveness of CLL B-cells was not restored by the addition of normal peripheral blood monocytes to the cultures. These experiments indicate that there is an intrinsic B-cell defect which prevents CLL B-lymphocytes from responding to PWM.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008940:Mitotic Index; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens