Clinical relevance of CD95 (Fas/Apo-1) on T cells of patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
OBJECTIVE
Apoptosis mediated via CD95 (Fas/Apo-1) is a key regulator for the biology of normal and malignant lymphocytes. Although the function of CD95 on B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells (B-CLL cells) has been studied intensively, the clinical importance of CD95 expression on normal T cells in B-CLL has not been clarified. This study aimed to investigate whether expression of CD95 on peripheral blood T cells correlates with clinically relevant parameters of B-CLL disease.


METHODS
Expression of CD95 (Fas/Apo-1) on peripheral blood T lymphocytes of patients with B-CLL was determined using flow cytometry and was correlated with expression of activation markers, sensitivity to apoptosis by anti-CD95, and clinical data, such as blood count, Binet stage, therapy, progression-free probability, and survival probability.


RESULTS
Differential CD95 expression did not correlate with activation markers or with levels of apoptosis through anti-CD95. However, high levels of CD95 on T cells from B-CLL patients correlated significantly with low lymphocyte doubling time, increased Binet stages, and requirement for chemotherapeutic treatment. Furthermore, increased cell-surface CD95 on T cells was associated with reduced progression-free probability and poorer survival.


CONCLUSIONS
CD95 levels on T cells correlate with the clinical course of B-CLL. Prospective studies appear warranted to investigate whether CD95 on T cells has a direct influence on B-CLL disease progression.
Groneberg
Claudia
C
Biomedizinisches Forschungszentrum, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Berlin, Germany
Pickartz
Tilman
T
Binder
Alexander
A
Ringel
Frauke
F
Srock
Stefanie
S
Sieber
Thomas
T
Schoeler
Dagmar
D
Schriever
Folke
F
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017209:Apoptosis; D018450:Disease Progression; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D015993:Life Tables; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*
C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D019014:fas Receptor