Perforin-positive leukemic cell infiltration in the aortic tissue of a patient with T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia.
Here we report a rare case of T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia in which leukemic killer cells, expressing a cytolytic factor perforin, infiltrated the aorta as well as the heart and may have directly injured aortic vascular cells which strongly expressed human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) as well as costimulatory molecules B7 and B70, which are ligands for CD28 expressed on T-cells. In spite of chemotherapy against leukemic cells, this autoimmune process finally caused fatal multi-organ failure.
Seko
Y
Y
Third Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan.
Azuma
M
M
Yagita
H
H
Okumura
K
K
Yazaki
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D015463:Leukemia, Prolymphocytic / Q000473:pathology*; D015458:Leukemia, T-Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D017254:Leukemic Infiltration / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D054353:Perforin; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology
D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D054353:Perforin