Functional differences of T cells in B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) is a disease characterized by an accumulation of monoclonal lymphocytes of B cell origin. Although the neoplastic process involves the B lymphocyte compartment, phenotypic and functional defects within the T lymphocyte population implicate their possible role in the pathogenesis of the disease. We analyzed the functional and morphological integrity of T lymphocytes from the peripheral blood of 64 patients with B-CLL. The activation of B-CLL T cells after PHA stimulation was determined by measuring [3H]-thymidine incorporation, assessing cell numbers in parallel cultures, and by monitoring the lymphocyte subsets during 9 days of cultivation. Our results indicate the presence of three functionally different populations of T cells in the peripheral blood of B-CLL patients. We present evidence for an increased proliferative potential of T lymphocytes from a group of patients with B-CLL.
Antica
M
M
Department of Experimental Biology and Medicine, Ruter Bosković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia.
Kusić
B
B
Spaventi
R
R
Jaksić
B
B
Vitale
B
B
D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D007700:Kinetics; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins