T cells in B cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. I. Decreased frequency of T lymphocytes secreting suppressor factor

A reverse T cell plaque assay was employed to study the ability of purified T cells isolated from the blood of seven patients with B cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL) to secrete antigen-specific helper or suppressor factors (ThF and TsF respectively) after activation in vitro. It was found that in spite of the phenotypical presence of CD8+ cells, the frequency of TsF-secreting cells was strongly decreased as compared to normal values. T cells secreting ThF could be generated in all B-CLL patients tested in about normal frequencies. These results may indicate a tumour induced change in the distribution of cellular subsets within the CD8+ cell compartment.