A low blood lymphocyte count is associated with an expansion of activated cytotoxic lymphocytes in patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.
In order to determine the relationships between CD2+ lymphocyte subpopulations and tumour mass, the immunophenotype of natural killer (NK) cells and T lymphocyte subsets was studied in 56 B-chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL) patients and 38 healthy subjects. The patients were classified according to their blood lymphocyte count (BLC). Forty patients had BLC<30x10(9)/l (low BLC, less tumour mass) and 16 patients had BLC>30x10(9)/l (high BLC, larger tumour mass). The percentage of CD3- CD56+ cells, as well as of CD8+, CD8+ CD45RO+ and CD3+ CD57+ T subsets in low BLC patients, were higher than those found in high BLC patients. Conversely, the percentages of CD3+ HLA x DR+, CD4+ and CD4+ CD45RO+ lymphocytes were higher in high BLC patients than in low BLC patients. The CD4/CD8 ratio was decreased in low BLC patients while it was increased in high BLC patients and a significant positive correlation was found between their CD4/CD8 ratio and their BLC. We conclude that in low BLC B-CLL patients there is a decreased percentage of activated helper lymphocytes and an increased percentage of NK cells and activated cytotoxic T lymphocytes. These results suggest a role for NK cells, and helper and cytotoxic T lymphocytes in the control of tumour burden in B-CLL patients.
Martín
A P
AP
Medicine Department, University of Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.
Martín
E R
ER
García-Suárez
J
J
Arriagada
F C
FC
del Puerto Hernandez-Fuentes
M
M
Vilaplana
J C
JC
Alvarez-Mon Soto
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000166:cytology*
D015703:Antigens, CD