Monoclonal proliferation of CD4+ large granular lymphocytes with cytolytic activity.
A rare case of monoclonal proliferation of CD3+4+8- T-cell receptor-alpha beta+ large granular lymphocytes (LGL) is presented. CD4+ LGL in the present case showed spontaneous cytotoxicity against herpes simplex virus-infected cells and antibody- and lectin-dependent cytotoxicity. Perforin, which is one of the important cytolytic mediators of cytotoxic T cells (CTL) and natural killer cells, was abundantly expressed in CD4+ LGL of this case. The present case suggests that perforin-positive CD4+ CTL, which have recently been shown in the in vitro studies, certainly exist in vivo.
First Department of Internal Medicine, Ehime University School of Medicine, Japan.
M
M
Yasukawa
Y
Y
Utsunomiya
Y
Y
Inoue
N
N
Kimura
S
S
Fujita
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D002455:Cell Division; D019070:Cell Lineage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology