Zeta chain and CD28 are poorly expressed on T lymphocytes from chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
We have analyzed the expression of the zeta chain of the T cell receptor/CD3 complex and the co-stimulatory molecule CD28 by dual colour immunofluorescence on T lymphocytes from patients with B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Zeta chain was significantly reduced on CD3-positive lymphocytes from 33 patients compared with normal controls (P<0.0001). The values were lower in stages B and C than in stage A. In five patients tested in partial remission the values were normal. CD28, investigated in CD3, CD4 and CD8 positive T cells from 18 CLL patients appeared to be reduced in the three subsets but more marked in CD8-positive lymphocytes. The loss of zeta chain and CD28 in a proportion of circulating T lymphocytes from CLL may underlie some of the known functional abnormalities of these cells and the immunodeficiency associated with the disease.
Rossi
E
E
Academic Department of Haematology and Cytogenetics, Royal Marsden Hospital, London, UK.
Matutes
E
E
Morilla
R
R
Owusu-Ankomah
K
K
Heffernan
A M
AM
Catovsky
D
D
D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D017260:Receptor-CD3 Complex, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000378:metabolism; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D018106:CD28 Antigens; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D017260:Receptor-CD3 Complex, Antigen, T-Cell; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; C054979:antigen T cell receptor, zeta chain