Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 10, 2026

Enumeration of Major Peripheral Blood Leukocyte Populations for Multicenter Clinical Trials Using a Whole Blood Phenotyping Assay
Published on: September 16, 2012
T type 1/type 2 subsets balance in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia--the three-color flow cytometry analysis
Monika Podhorecka1, Anna Dmoszynska, Jacek Rolinski
1Department of Clinical Immunology, University School of Medicine in Lublin, Jaczewskiego 8, 20-950, Lublin, Poland. mpodhor@asklepios.am.lukin.pl
Insights
Immune cell imbalances in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) shift towards T type 2 during disease progression. This study evaluated T-helper (Th) and T-cytotoxic (Tc) cell balance in B-CLL patients.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Hematology
- Oncology
Background:
- B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) is characterized by immune cell dysfunction and secondary immune deficiencies.
- Understanding the T-cell balance is crucial for comprehending B-CLL pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the Th1/Th2 and Tc1/Tc2 balance in B-CLL patients compared to healthy individuals.
- To investigate how this balance changes during B-CLL disease progression.
Main Methods:
- Utilized three-color flow cytometry to analyze cytokine expression (IL-4, IFN-gamma).
- Assessed cytokine expression in peripheral blood CD3+CD4+ (T-helper) and CD3+CD8+ (T-cytotoxic) cells.
Main Results:
- B-CLL patients exhibit a dominance of T type 1 cells, indicating T-cell-mediated immunity.
- A shift towards T type 2 cells was observed as the disease progresses in B-CLL patients.
Conclusions:
- The T-cell immune response in B-CLL is initially T type 1 dominant but shifts towards T type 2 during disease progression.
- These findings contribute to understanding immune dysregulation in B-CLL.
Abstract:
The impairments in immune cell functions as well as changes in cytokine network are the cause of malignant cell accumulation and secondary immune deficiencies in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL). To broaden the knowledge of immune system in B-CLL we tried to evaluate the Th1/Th2 and Tc1/Tc2 balance in B-CLL patients in comparison with healthy individuals and changes of this pattern during disease progression. The three-color flow cytometry technique was used to analyze IL-4 and IFNgamma expression in peripheral blood CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ cells. The results indicate the dominance of T type 1 cells and T-cell-mediated immunity in B-CLL patients that is however shifted towards T type 2 during disease progression.

