CD14⁺HLA-DR^low/- expression: A novel prognostic factor in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Currently, no prognostic factors exist for determining the host immune status of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients. Therefore, the present report analyzed cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14)⁺ human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR^low/- myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) from 49 CLL patients and demonstrated that these cells were significantly expanded in all CLL patients when compared with monoclonal B cell lymphocytosis patients and healthy volunteers. Furthermore, upregulation of CD14⁺HLA-DR^low/- MDSCs was correlated with CLL tumor progression and a poor prognosis for CLL patients, and CD14⁺HLA-DR^low/- MDSCs were significantly correlated with the presence of CD4⁺ T and CD5⁺CD19⁺ cells in CLL patients, which could significantly inhibit the CD4⁺ T-cell immune response, contributing to CLL cell progression in CLL patients.