title: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia B cells are resistant to the apoptotic effects of transforming growth factor-beta.
abstract: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common leukemia of the western world and is characterized by a slowly progressing accumulation of clonal CD5+ B cells. Our laboratory has investigated the role of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in the pathogenesis of B-cell expansion in CLL. In vitro addition of TGF-beta did not increase spontaneous apoptosis of B cells from most CLL patients, as determined using the TUNEL method, compared with a twofold increase observed in cultures of normal B cells. There was similar expression of TGF-beta type II receptors on both CLL B cells and normal B cells. In contrast to apoptosis, CLL B-cell proliferation was variably inhibited with addition of TGF-beta. In vitro addition of IL-4, previously reported to promote CLL B-cell survival, dramatically reduced spontaneous apoptosis of CLL B cells compared with normal B cells. CLL B-cell expression of IL-4 receptors was increased compared to normal B cells. Thus, our results show aberrant apoptotic responses of CLL B cells to TGF-beta and IL-4, perhaps contributing to the relative expansion of the neoplastic clone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104-6082, USA.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Douglas
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Capocasale
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Lamb
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Nowell
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Moore
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004351:Drug Resistance; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D015847:Interleukin-4