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T lymphocytes in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Annals of the Medical Section of the Polish Academy of Sciences
|January 1, 1976
Summary
In chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients, a significant population of lymphocytes shows delayed reactivity to phytohemagglutinin (PHA). This late-reactive subset, approximately 3% of lymphocytes, is of thymic origin and retains key functions.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Hematology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is characterized by the accumulation of lymphocytes.
- Understanding lymphocyte subpopulations and their functions is crucial for CLL research.
- Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) is a common mitogen used to stimulate lymphocyte proliferation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the magnitude of lymphocytes with delayed PHA reactivity in CLL patients.
- To characterize the properties of this late-reactive lymphocyte subpopulation.
- To determine the origin of these PHA-reactive lymphocytes in CLL.
Main Methods:
- Peripheral blood lymphocytes from CLL patients were cultured.
- Cells were pulse-labeled with 3H-thymidine (3H-TdR) to assess proliferation.
- Proportion of unlabeled blasts and PHA reactivity were analyzed in late-stage cultures.
Main Results:
- A late-reactive lymphocyte subpopulation to PHA was identified in 15 of 17 CLL cases.
- This subpopulation constituted approximately 3% of peripheral blood lymphocytes and about half of PHA-reactive lymphocytes.
- The cells were relatively radioresistant, L-asparagine dependent, colchicine insensitive, and largely retained sheep red blood cell rosette formation.
Conclusions:
- The number of PHA-reactive peripheral blood lymphocytes is not diminished in CLL patients with moderate leukocytosis.
- The late-reactive lymphocyte population in CLL appears to be of thymic origin.
- This subpopulation exhibits distinct biological characteristics compared to leukemic cells.