Production of intracellular IL-2, TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma by T cells in B-CLL.
BACKGROUND
Recent evidence indicates that the slowly expanding population of CD5(+) B cells that characterizes B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) could be related to defects in the response to cytokine produced by T cells that regulate apoptosis. We studied the intracellular expressions of interleukin-2 (IL-2), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in T-helper 1 cells (Th1 response) of B-CLL.


METHODS
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 21 healthy individuals and purified T cells from 21 early-stage and 15 late-stage B-CLL patients were activated with phorbol myristate acetate and ionomycin. The Th1 cytoplasmic cytokines were evaluated in CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells by flow cytometry.


RESULTS
The percentages of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells positive for IL-2 were significantly lower in B-CLL patients than in healthy individuals (P = 0.030 and 0.049, respectively). No significant differences in TNF-alpha or IFN-gamma intracellular expressions were found between patients and healthy individuals. TNF-alpha- and IFN-gamma-expressing CD8 T cells were disease stage dependent, being significantly higher in late-stage patients (P < 0.001 for both cytokines).


CONCLUSIONS
Our present observations suggested that Th1 cytokines may be of major importance in the pathogenesis of B-CLL.
Service of Internal Medicine I, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro, Universidad Autónoma, Madrid, Spain.
A
A
Gallego
J A
JA
Vargas
R
R
Castejón
M J
MJ
Citores
Y
Y
Romero
I
I
Millán
A
A
Durántez
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D007424:Intracellular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology
D016207:Cytokines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma