Coincident change of cellular function and phenotype in the course of a suppressor T cell acute lymphocytic leukaemia

The phenotypic and functional characteristics of the leukaemic cells from one patient with T suppressor ALL were studied at the time of diagnosis and in relapse. At the time of diagnosis, the phenotype corresponded to the intermediate stage between the cortical and medullary phases of normal thymocyte differentiation with a high proportion of T8+ cells (E-R+, TdT+, C3bR-, T3-, T4-, T6+, T8++, T10+). Functionally, the cells did not respond to mitogens but mediated strong suppressor activity to allogeneic B-cells, as measured in a reversely haemolytic plaque test. Clinically, the patient exhibited the uncommon feature of hypogammaglobulinaemia. Induction therapy led to complete remission, which continued for 12 months. In the relapse, the phenotype remained essentially stable except for a dramatic decrease of the T8+ cell fraction and an increase of the T10+ cell fraction. Functionally, the suppressor activity was completely lost, indicating a close correlation between phenotype and functional activity in this leukaemic cell population.