Human acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) blasts as accessory cells during T-cell activation: differences between patients in costimulatory capacity affect proliferative responsiveness and cytokine release by activated T cells.
The ability of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) blasts to mediate costimulatory signals during T-lymphocyte activation was investigated in an experimental model in which monoclonal T-cell populations were stimulated with standardized activation signals (anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 monoclonal antibodies; phytohemagglutinin, PHA). Leukemia cells from 12 consecutive ALL patients with high peripheral blood blast counts were studied. Proliferative T-cell responses were detected for a majority of these patients when irradiated leukemia blasts were used as accessory cells during activation. T-cell cytokine release was also observed for most patients when using nonirradiated ALL accessory cells. Low or undetectable cytokine levels were usually observed for CD8+ clones, whereas the CD4+ clones often showed a broad cytokine response with release of interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4, IL-10, IL-13 and interferon gamma(IFN-gamma) in the presence of the ALL accessory cells. ALL blasts were also able to function as allostimulatory cells for normal peripheral blood mononuclear responder cells. However, both T-cell proliferation and cytokine release showed a wide variation between ALL patients. The accessory cell function of ALL blasts showed no correlation with the release of immunomodulatory mediators (IL-2, IL-10, IL-15) or the expression of any single adhesion/costimulatory membrane molecule (CD54, CD58, CD80, CD86) by the blasts. We conclude that for a majority of patients, native ALL blasts can mediate costimulatory signals needed for accessory cell-dependent T-cell activation, but differences in costimulatory capacity between ALL patients affects both the proliferative responsiveness and cytokine release by activated T cells.
Bruserud
Oystein
O
Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, N-5021, Bergen, Norway, oystein.bruserud@haukeland.no
Ulvestad
Elling
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018122:B7-1 Antigen / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D051940:B7-2 Antigen; D002450:Cell Communication; D002460:Cell Line; D002999:Clone Cells; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD; D018122:B7-1 Antigen; D051940:B7-2 Antigen; C497964:CD86 protein, human; D016207:Cytokines; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma