Interleukin 4 content in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) B cells and blood CD8+ T cells from B-CLL patients: impact on clonal B-cell apoptosis.
B-chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) clonal B cells are characterized by resistance to apoptosis. We evaluated clonal B cells and blood T cells for interleukin 4 (IL-4) content as IL-4 is able to increase CLL cell resistance to apoptosis. The content of IL-4 in CD8+ T cells of CLL patients (n = 9) ranged from 37% to 63% of the total CD8+ T cells (mean level of 49% +/- 3.4) compared with a range of 5-10% for control CD8+ T cells. Clonal B cells positive for cytoplasmic IL-4 ranged from 1% to 97% (mean value 57.8 +/- 6.9%). CD8+ T cells and clonal B cells secreted detectable levels of IL-4, but only clonal CLL B cells (n = 4) secreted IL-4 in association with increasing cell numbers. Fludarabine (F-ara-AMP, 0.1-100 micromol/ml) was able to downregulate the IL-4 content of CD8+ T cells, but not clonal B-cell IL-4. Culture supernatant from CLL CD8+ T cells decreased the spontaneous apoptotic rate of clonal B cells that was reversed with anti-IL-4 and soluble IL-4 receptor. These findings show that IL-4 is present in the microenvironment of B-CLL. In addition, use of agents that can interfere with IL-4 presentation to clonal B cells can be effective in increasing clonal B-cell apoptosis.
Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, NY 55905, USA. kay.neil@mayo.edu
N E
NE
Kay
L
L
Han
N
N
Bone
G
G
Williams
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000032:analysis*; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D014740:Vidarabine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D015847:Interleukin-4; D014740:Vidarabine; C024352:fludarabine