title: Increased expression of CD152 (CTLA-4) by normal T lymphocytes in untreated patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
abstract: Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) have defects in both cellular and humoral immunity. Since CD152 (CTLA-4) plays a critical role in downregulating T-cell responses, we studied the expression of surface and cytoplasmic CD152 (sCD152 and cCD152, respectively) in freshly isolated T cells from treatment-naïve patients with CLL. CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from these patients demonstrated significantly increased sCD152 and cCD152 compared to normal donors. Furthermore, these patients had an increased proportion of the regulatory CD4(+)/CD25(+)/CD152+ subset that correlated with advanced Rai stage, unfavorable cytogenetics and low serum IgG and IgA levels. The expression of sCD152 by T cells also correlated with ZAP-70 expression by CLL B cells. The proportion of CD4(+)/CD25+ cells was also correlated with unmutated immunoglobulin heavy chain variable gene status. Blockade of CD152 with monoclonal antibody (mAb) in proliferation assays was associated with potent T-cell proliferation in response to autologous and allogeneic CD40-activated CLL B cells. In summary, T cells from patients with CLL may be primed for anergy by expressing increased amounts of CD152; anti-CD152 mAb may represent a therapeutic opportunity to enhance an immune response against autologous leukemia cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Leukemia, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77230-1402, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Motta
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rassenti
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Shelvin
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lerner
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Kipps
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Keating
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Wierda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000378:metabolism*; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; C556706:CTLA4 protein, human