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Large granular lymphocytes, Leu 7 reactivity and natural killer cell function in peripheral blood of patients with
Insights
Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) patients exhibit lower lymphocyte and Leu 7+ cell counts, impacting natural cytotoxicity. However, immune cell counts, including large granular lymphocytes (LGL), improve during remission, suggesting potential for immune recovery.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Hematology
- Oncology
Background:
- Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is a rare chronic B-cell leukemia characterized by specific immunophenotypic markers.
- Alterations in lymphocyte subsets and natural killer (NK) cell activity are implicated in the pathogenesis and clinical course of HCL.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the levels of lymphocytes, Leu 7+ cells, and large granular lymphocytes (LGL) in patients with active and inactive HCL compared to healthy controls.
- To evaluate natural cytotoxicity against K-562 cells in different HCL patient groups and its correlation with immune cell counts.
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometry was used to determine the percentage and absolute counts of lymphocytes, Leu 7+ cells, and LGL.
- Natural cytotoxicity assays were performed using K-562 target cells.
- Statistical analysis was conducted to compare immune cell parameters and cytotoxicity across control, active HCL, and inactive HCL groups.
Main Results:
- Patients with HCL, even in active stages, showed significantly lower percentages and absolute numbers of lymphocytes and Leu 7+ cells compared to controls.
- The absolute number of LGL was significantly reduced in active HCL patients, despite no significant difference in LGL percentage.
- Natural cytotoxicity against K-562 cells was significantly lower in active HCL patients. Immune cell counts and cytotoxicity showed improvement in patients in remission.
Conclusions:
- Hairy cell leukemia is associated with significant reductions in lymphocyte subsets and impaired natural cytotoxicity, particularly in active disease.
- Immune cell counts, including LGL and Leu 7+ cells, and natural cytotoxicity show recovery in patients achieving remission.
- A positive correlation exists between lymphocyte counts, Leu 7+ cells, LGL, and natural cytotoxicity, highlighting their interconnected roles in HCL.
Abstract:
The percentage and absolute number of lymphocytes and Leu 7+ cells were significantly lower in HD even in active stages. There was no significant difference in the percentage of LGL between the three groups (control, active HD, inactive HD), however, because of differences in counts of lymphocytes the absolute number of LGL was significantly lower in HD even in the active group than that in healthy controls. The absolute count of LGL and Leu 7+ cells in patients in remission was significantly higher than that in active HD. Natural cytotoxicity against K-562 cells was also significantly lower in active patients in comparison with controls, while the percentage of cytotoxicity was slightly but not significantly higher in patients in remission than that in the active group. A positive correlation was observed between all the three examined parameters both in controls and in patients with active and inactive HD.