Expression of interleukin-2 receptor on T cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia
cells and their response to interleukin-2
M Tsudo, T Uchiyama, H Umadome, Y Wano, T Hori, S Tamori, H Uchino, K Kita, S Chiba and S Mitsutani
We analyzed peripheral blood leukemic cells from six patients with T cell
chronic lymphocytic leukemia (T-CLL) with monoclonal antibodies including
the anti-Tac antibody, which recognizes the receptor for interleukin 2 (IL
2). The patients were divided into two groups according to the reactivity
of the monoclonal antibodies. Leukemic cells from three patients with T-CLL
reacted with OKT3 and T4 but not T8, whereas those from the remaining three
patients reacted with OKT3 and T8 but not T4. IL 2 receptor, which is
expressed on activated T cells but not on resting T cells, was
preferentially expressed on T4+ T- CLL cells. The IL 2 receptor on T4+
T-CLL cells was indistinguishable from that on normal activated T cells
with respect to molecular weight and downregulation by the anti-Tac
antibody. Moreover, fresh T4+ T-CLL cells, but not T8+ T-CLL cells,
proliferated in response to exogenous IL 2 without prior activation, and
this proliferation was inhibited by the anti-Tac antibody. These results
suggest that malignant growth of T4+ T-CLL cells can be regulated by IL 2
not only in vitro but also in vivo.
Volume 67,
Issue 2,
pp. 316-321,
02/01/1986
Copyright © 1986 by The American Society of Hematology
