Effect of a thymic factor on T lymphocytes in B cell chronic lymphocytic
leukemia: in vitro and in vivo studies
F Lauria, D Raspadori and S Tura
Abnormalities of T lymphocytes in B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia
(B-CLL) have been extensively documented by several immunologic
investigations. Following recent studies pointing to the favorable effect
of TP-1, a partially purified extract of calf thymus, on the T
cell-mediated immunity of several diseases, including Hodgkin's disease, we
have used monoclonal antibodies and the enriched T lymphocytes of 16
untreated B-CLL patients to evaluate the proportion of T cell subsets
before and after the administration of TP-1. In addition, the proliferative
response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and the helper function in a pokeweed
mitogen (PWM) system were assessed. In ten cases, the effect of TP-1 was
also studied in vitro by evaluating the same parameters before and after
incubation of B-CLL T cells with the drug. The study demonstrated that in
vivo administration of TP-1 increases significantly (P less than .001) the
proportion of the defective helper/inducer T cell population (OKT4-positive
cells) in B-CLL, leading to a near normal OKT4/OKT8 ratio. Furthermore, the
improved phenotypic profile was accompanied by an increased proliferative
response to PHA and, in particular, by a significant increase (P less than
.01) of T helper capacity; this increase was, however, insufficient to
enable the normalization of the serum immunoglobulin levels. The in vitro
incubation of B-CLL T lymphocytes did not succeed in producing significant
modifications in distribution and function.
Volume 64,
Issue 3,
pp. 667-671,
09/01/1984
Copyright © 1984 by The American Society of Hematology
