Suppressor T cells in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: relationship to clinical stage

In 32 patients with B-cell chronic lymphatic leukaemia (CLL), OKT8+ suppressor T cells were increased in relative (mean 54 +/- 14%; normal mean 34 +/- 6%) and absolute (1.8 +/- 1.6 X 10(9)/1; normal range 0.3-0.6 X 10(9)/1) numbers. OKT4+ helper cells were reduced in relative (mean 53 +/- 15%; normal mean 65 +/- 7%) but not absolute (1.7 +/- 1.4 X 10(9)/1; normal range 0.6-1.4 X 10(9)/1) numbers. Essentially identical results were obtained in treated and untreated patients. There was no significant association between T-cell subset numbers and clinical stage, whether assessed by the Rai classification or the more recent Binet system, although the OKT4+/8+ ratio was slightly lower in advanced disease. The study suggests that the immunoparesis so characteristic of CLL may be attributable to increased suppressor T-cell activity.