title: Regulatory T-cell number is increased in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients and correlates with progressive disease.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza Hospital, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy. giovannidarena@libero.it
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Arena
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Laurenti
authors.forename: Maria Marta
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Minervini
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Deaglio
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bonello
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Martino
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Padua
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Savino
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tarnani
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: De Feo
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cascavilla
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: 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