title: An Analysis of Circulating CD4 Lymphocyte Subpopulations in B-Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia.
abstract: The distribution of circulating CD4 lymphocyte subpopulations determined by reactivity with monoclonal antibodies anti-2H4 (CD45RA), anti-UCHL1 (CD45RO), anti-4B4 (CD29) and anti-Leu8, and analysed by dual colour immunofluorescence flow cytometry is described in a series of patients with B-CLL and in age-matched control subjects. The percentages and absolute numbers of CD4 cells reactive with anti-CD45RA, anti-CD45RO and anti-CD29 reagents were similar in the patient and control groups. In contrast, CD4+ Leu8+ cells (percentages and absolute numbers) were significantly reduced in B-CLL patients resulting in an inversion of the normal CD4+ Leu8+ :CD4+Leu8- ratio. The patients' clinical or therapeutic status did not appear to influence the levels of the respective CD4 subpopulations; nor was evidence of hypogammaglobulinaemia associated with specific numerical alterations in any of the CD4 subpopulations studied. It is proposed that, in B-CLL, the alterations in the CD4Leu8 subpopulations are associated with the disease process, whereas the distributions of CD4+CD45RA+, CD4+ CD45RO+ and CD4+ CD29+ cells reflect the normal physiological levels of these subpopulations in elderly subjects.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Royal Victoria Hospital, Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Crockard
authors.affiliation: b Department of Haematology, Royal Victoria Hospital, Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.affiliation: c Department of Haematology, Belfast City Hospital, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Stephenson
authors.affiliation: a Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Royal Victoria Hospital, Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McCrea
authors.affiliation: a Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Royal Victoria Hospital, Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
authors.forename: Z R
authors.initials: ZR
authors.lastname: Desai
authors.affiliation: b Department of Haematology, Royal Victoria Hospital, Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.affiliation: a Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Royal Victoria Hospital, Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: McNeill
keywords: B-Cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia; CD4 cell subpopulations; flow cytometry; regulatory T lymphocytes