Leu 11+ T gamma cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia with partially activated
natural killer function and its further activation by recombinant IL2 in
vitro
S Tagawa, Y Tokumine, E Ueda, K Waki, Y Kanayama, N Taniguchi, T Nakanishi, R Inoue and T Kitani
A patient with T gamma cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia with the Leu 11+
phenotype and novel function of activated natural killer cells is reported.
The peripheral blood mononuclear cells of this patient showed large
granular lymphocytes by May-Giemsa staining and lamellipodia by scanning
electron micrography. Tests on reactivity with monoclonal antibodies showed
that most cells were Leu 11+, OKT3-/Leu 1-, OKT4-, OKT8-, Leu 7-, OKM1-,
and Tac-. Freshly collected cells lysed not only K562, which is highly
sensitive to natural killer cells, but also Raji cells and Daudi cells,
which are not. Leu 11+ cells were triggered by recombinant interleukin 2
(rIL2) to proliferate, produce gamma- interferon (gamma IFN), and show
enhanced HLA-DR antigen expression, and 30% of the Leu 11+ cells became
positive for IL2 receptor antigen (Tac). The spectrum of cytotoxic activity
of these cells against target cells was extended by rIL2; after treatment
with rIL2, the cells also lysed HeLa cells and even fresh cancer cells.
This stimulation also increased the activities of acid phosphatase and
tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase of the cells and resulted in the
appearance of nonspecific esterase activity. The expanded cell population
may represent a neoplasm, but these findings provide information on a novel
differentiation stage of activated NK cells.
Volume 68,
Issue 4,
pp. 846-852,
10/01/1986
Copyright © 1986 by The American Society of Hematology
