Idiotype-reactive T-cell subsets and tumor load in monoclonal gammopathies.
The presence of idiotype-reactive T-cell subsets and their relation to the tumor load were analyzed in 9 patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), in 12 patients with multiple myeloma (MM) clinical stage I, and in 9 patients with MM stage II/III. An enzyme-linked immunospot assay was used to identify interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-, interleukin-2 (IL-2)-, or IL-4-secreting T cells after stimulation by F(ab')2 fragments of monoclonal IgG. The response to autologous IgG was significantly higher than that induced by isotypic monoclonal IgG. Comparable results were obtained in a proliferation assay (3H-thymidine incorporation). A total of 8 of 9 patients with MGUS, 7 of 12 patients with MM stage I, and 3 of 9 with MM stage II/III had T cells secreting IFN-gamma and/or IL-2 (T helper [Th1] type-1 cells), whereas cells secreting both Th1 and Th2 or Th0 types of cytokines were more frequent in patients with MM, particularly in those with MM stage II/III. The number and frequency of Th1-type cells were significantly higher in MGUS patients as compared with those of MM stage II/III. The results indicate that idiotype-reactive T cells of the Th1 and Th2 or Th0 subsets were present in MGs and might provide indirect evidence that idiotype-reactive Th1-type cells may have a regulatory impact on the human tumor B cells.
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Immunological Research Laboratory, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Osterborg
A
A
Bergenbrant
S
S
Mellstedt
H
H
Holm
G
G
Lefvert
A K
AK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes / Q000276:immunology*; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes / Q000276:immunology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D009194:Myeloma Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D010265:Paraproteinemias / Q000276:immunology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes; D007376:Interleukin-2; D009194:Myeloma Proteins; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma