An HTLV-I carrier who developed CD4+ T-CLL expressed the IL-2 receptor beta chain alone without expressing the alpha chain.
We describe a case of T-chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (T-CLL) with monoclonal proliferation of CD3+4+8- T cell expressing the interleukin 2 receptor (IL-2R) beta chain without expressing the alpha chain. Southern blot analysis of T-cell receptor beta chain gene revealed rearranged bands. The serum antibody was positive against human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-1)-associated antigens, but monoclonal integration of proviral DNA was not detected in the leukaemic cells. In accordance with the expression of IL-2R beta chain, the leukaemic cells proliferated in response to exogenous IL-2 without prior stimulation. However, culture supernatants of these cells did not show IL-2 activity. Since the role of the IL-2R beta chain in freshly isolated cells from T-CLL patients is not well understood, detailed analysis of this case would give us valuable information on the role of IL-2/IL-2R system in the proliferation of the leukaemic T cells.
Mori
N
N
First Department of Internal Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, Kitakyushu, Japan.
Murakami
S
S
Oda
S
S
Eto
S
S
D000368:Aged; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D002353:Carrier State; D002455:Cell Division / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology; D015461:Leukemia, Prolymphocytic, T-Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics*
D007376:Interleukin-2; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2