title: Expansion of CD8+ T cells that express low levels of the B cell-specific molecule CD20 in patients with multiple myeloma.
abstract: An expanded cytotoxic/memory T-cell subpopulation expressing low levels of the B-cell-specific CD20 molecule was found in peripheral blood and bone marrow of patients with multiple myeloma at the time of diagnosis, but returned to normal levels following treatment. CD3+CD20dim cells were also increased in monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance albeit at lower levels. Lower CD3+CD20dim cell numbers at baseline may be associated with lack of response to treatment and a poor outcome. Because expansion of these T cells may be related to disease status, further studies should investigate their potentially unique function in plasma cell dyscrasias.
authors.affiliation: Department of Therapeutics, Alexandra Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Ourania
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Katopodis
authors.forename: Stamatis-Nick
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Liossis
authors.forename: Vassilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Viglis
authors.forename: Anastasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pouli
authors.forename: Meletios-Athanasios
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Dimopoulos
authors.forename: Petros P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Sfikakis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000378:metabolism*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D010265:Paraproteinemias / Q000276:immunology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D018951:Antigens, CD20