Regulatory T-cell number is increased in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients and correlates with progressive disease.
Regulatory T-cells (Treg) actively maintain immunological self-tolerance and play a significant role in the progression of cancer. Treg cell numbers have been evaluated in 80 patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and in 40 normal healthy volunteers. Treg cells are higher in CLL patients than in controls and correlate with disease status (more advanced clinical stage, peripheral blood B-cell lymphocytosis, absolute CD38+ B-cell number, and more elevated LDH levels). No correlation was found with ZAP-70 expression, IgVH mutational status and cytogenetic abnormalities. This data shows that Treg cell number is abnormal in CLL patients.
D'Arena
Giovanni
G
IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza Hospital, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy. giovannidarena@libero.it
Laurenti
Luca
L
Minervini
Maria Marta
MM
Deaglio
Silvia
S
Bonello
Lisa
L
De Martino
Laura
L
De Padua
Laura
L
Savino
Lucia
L
Tarnani
Michela
M
De Feo
Vincenzo
V
Cascavilla
Nicola
N
D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000235:genetics; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D051746:ZAP-70 Protein-Tyrosine Kinase / Q000378:metabolism
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D051746:ZAP-70 Protein-Tyrosine Kinase; C497261:ZAP70 protein, human; D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1