Aberrant expression of the CD8 antigen in B cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.
We report a case of aberrant expression of the T cell antigen CD8 in a patient with B cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL). A 62-year-old Caucasian female with several enlarged lymph nodes and suspected to have B-CLL was referred to our laboratory for routine immunophenotyping. Peripheral blood cell count showed moderate leucocytosis without other abnormalities. The dual-colour flow cytometric analysis showed a typical B-CLL phenotype (CD45+, CD19+, kappa+, lambda-, CD20+, CD23+, IgM+, HLA-DR+, CD5/CD19+, CD3-). In addition, aberrant expression of the T cell marker CD8 was found, present on approximately 64% of the leukemic cells. This is a rare even, the significance and nature of this aberration has not yet been fully determined. In this case, our patient had a rapid response to treatment with a remarkable reduction in the number of leukemic cells only two weeks after beginning treatment.
Espinosa
A
A
Department of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital of Trondheim, St Olavs Hospital, Olav Kyrresg, Trondheim 17, 7006, Norway. aurora.espinosa@rit.no
Bjørk
P
P
Magnussen
K
K
Moen
T
T
Sørum
Y
Y
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D016827:CD8 Antigens