Impairments in immune cell function in B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) is a common clonal B cell leukemia that is often accompanied by a multitude of immune abnormalities. Each immune defect may be linked to several of the common complications affecting B-CLL patients. Furthermore, the combined abnormalities constitute a significant immunodeficiency for each patient. Importantly, some of the immune dysfunctions are potentially very relevant to the in vivo survival status of the leukemic B cell. The elucidation of these abnormalities in the circulating non-malignant immune cells of B-CLL patients has generated important insights into the biology of the disease. This discussion reviews the immune abnormalities of the clonal malignant B cells, the polyclonal B cells, and the immunoregulatory T cells and natural killer cells in B-CLL. In addition, we indicate the potential for immunotherapeutic protocols as innovations in treating this disease.
Bartik
M M
MM
University of Kentucky, Department of Internal Medicine, Lexington, USA.
Welker
D
D
Kay
N E
NE
D000917:Antibody Formation; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology