Reduced IL-4 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) expression by CD4 T cells in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.
CD7 co-expression by CD4 T cells has been reported to be higher in the Th1 compared with the Th2 functional subset. Clinical immunodeficiency and immune dysregulation are more prevalent in the advanced stages of B cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL). To analyse this further 25 patients with B-CLL and 11 healthy subjects were examined for cell surface CD7 and intracellular IFN-gamma and IL-4 expression in the peripheral blood CD4+ T helper cell population. Significantly decreased CD7, IFN-gamma and IL-4 expression was observed in the patients with B-CLL (P < 0.001). While CD7 negativity and IL-4 expression were more frequent in the later stages of the disease, this did not attain statistical significance. These results suggest a possible explanation for the reduced cellular and humoral immunity in B-CLL.
Department of Immunology, St Helier NHS Trust, Carshalton, UK.
S J
SJ
Hill
S H
SH
Peters
M J
MJ
Ayliffe
J
J
Merceica
A S
AS
Bansal
D019011:Antigens, CD7 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000172:deficiency*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000172:deficiency*; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000378:metabolism
D019011:Antigens, CD7; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma