Chromosomal abnormality limited to T4 lymphocytes in a patient with T-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

Cytogenetic, immunologic and DNA studies were performed on a patient with the T-cell type of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Standard G-banding karyotype analysis revealed clonal chromosome abnormalities with the karyotype 42-44,XY,-11,-12,-13,-16,-21,-22,i(8q),inv(14) (q11q32), t(15;?)(p11;?), +4-6mar/43-44,X,t(Y;14)(p11;q11),-11,-12, -13,-21,-22,i(6p),i(8q),inv(14)(q11q32),t(15;?)(q11;?), +1-3mar. MAC (morphology, antibody, chromosomes) methodology, which allows the immunophenotyping of mitotic cells, showed that the chromosome abnormalities were restricted to CD4-positive helper/inducer T lymphocytes and that CD8 suppressor/cytotoxic T cells and B lymphocytes possessed a normal karyotype. The results also indicate that the proportion of abnormal metaphases and the overall mitotic activity after 3.5 days of stimulation in vitro were highest when PHA and TPA were used as mitogens. When the culture period in the presence of PHA + IL-2 was extended, the proportion of the abnormal cell population decreased in direct relation to the length of the culture period, ranging from 100% at 3.5 d to 0% at 31 d after stimulation. Southern blotting analysis revealed rearrangements of both the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene and the beta T-cell receptor gene.