Enumeration of absolute numbers of T lymphocyte subsets in B‐chronic lymphocytic leukaemia using an immunoperoxidase technique: relation to clinical stage

Abstract

An immunoperoxidase technique has been used to identify and enumerate helper and suppressor T-cell subsets, as defined by reactivity with Coulter T4 and OKT8 monoclonal antibodies in 54 patients with B chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL) and in the same number of matched controls. The ratio of T4+ to T8+ cells was significantly reduced in the B-CLL group as a whole (P less than 0.001) and in each stage of the three clinical staging systems. There was an increase in the median absolute level of T8+ cells in the whole CLL group (P less than 0.001). However, subdivision of the CLL group by clinical staging systems revealed a large group (28 patients) in which median T8+ cell levels were not raised and median T4+ cell levels were low (P less than 0.01). There was no significant decrease in T4+:T8+ ratio, increase in T8+ cells or decrease in T4+ cells with progression of clinical stage. Absolute numbers of E+ cells were significantly raised in all staging systems as were E+ T4- T8- cells (P less than 0.001). A significant alteration in either of these populations with progression of clinical stage was not present.

Abnormal distribution of CD8 subpopulation in B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia identified by flow cytometry

“…Concomitant with other reported studies [1][2][3][4][5][6] the mean CD4+/CD8 ÷ ratios in B-CLL patients is decreased (Fig. 3).…”

“…Further complications arise from E-rosette formation by immunoglobulin positive cells [22] and presence of E receptors in B-CLL cells [23]. To our knowledge only three studies have been reported in which direct assessment of T-cell subpopulations in B-CLL is per-formed [2,5,8]. In these studies the median of the absolute number of T cells was enlarged especially of CD8 ÷ cells.…”

“…Most authors describe an increase in CD8 positive lymphocytes (CD8 ÷) and a decrease in CD4 positive lymphocytes (CD4 ÷) [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. Functional T-cell studies yield contradictory results; normal [9] or decreased helper function is described [10][11][12] as well as decreased [13] or increased suppressor function [14,15].…”

Cytotoxic lymphocytes in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia

“…Decreased CD 4/CD 8 ratios have often been found for B-CLL patients [2,8,[14][15][16]19]. We have shown in a previous study that this is due to an increased number of CD 8* cytotoxic lymphocytes [22].…”

“…In addition, several phenotypic and functional abnormalities of the T-lymphocyte population are described. The number of CD4-positive ( C D 4 ÷) lymphocytes is decreased, whereas the number of CD8-positive (CD 8 ÷) lymphocytes is increased, both relative to what is found in healthy donors [2,8,[14][15][16]19]. Moreover, the C D 8 ÷ lymphocytes in B-CLL patients mainly consist of cytotoxic CD 8 ÷ lymphocytes [22].…”