title: Can CD3+/HLA-DR+ activated T cells predict the prognosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients?
abstract: The immune system has several mechanisms to fight against developing malignant cell clones in the host, one of them is the activated T-cell response. Both CD4+ helper and CD8+ cytotoxic T-cells bear HLA-DR molecules as important surface activation markers. Our aim was to determine, how the ratio of activated T cells change in the peripheral blood of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) patients during the periods of polychemotherapy. Using the methods of immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometry, we found the ratio of CD3+/HLA-DR+ cells significantly higher in NHL patients before treatment compared to healthy controls (10.63% versus 2.97%, P<0.001). During the period of polychemotherapy, this ratio began to increase significantly (10.63% versus 16.94%, P=0.006). After treatment, the ratio of activated T cells decreased, however, we detected significantly higher rate of CD3+/HLA-DR+ lymphocytes in patients who relapsed within 1 year than in those who stayed in remission (9.55% versus 20.62%, P<0.001). We suppose that investigation of CD3+/HLA-DR+ activated T cells might be a promising method to determine the prognostics of lymphoma patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Immuno-Hematology, Third Department of Medicine, Medical and Health Science Centre, University of Debrecen, P.O. Box 3, H-4004 Debrecen, Hungary. varoczy@iiibel.dote.hu
authors.forename: László
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Váróczy
authors.forename: Lajos
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gergely
authors.forename: Zsófia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Miltényi
authors.forename: Magdolna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aleksza
authors.forename: Arpád
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Illés
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D017252:CD3 Complex; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens