Large granular lymphocytes from patients with expanded LGL populations
acquire cytotoxic functions and release lymphokines upon in vitro
activation
V Pistoia, EF Prasthofer, AB Tilden, JC Barton, M Ferrarini, CE Grossi and K Zuckerman
The phenotypic and functional features of purified large granular
lymphocytes (LGL) from ten patients with LGL population expansions and
cytopenias are described. The predominant LGL phenotypes were T3+, T8+,
Leu-11+/-; however, in two patients, LGL expressed a T3-, Leu-11+
phenotype. Variable combinations of other LGL markers (OKM1, Leu-7), and
HLA-DR were detected in individual cases. In nine of ten cases, freshly
isolated LGL did not exert cytolytic activity for K562 target cells, but
purified LGL cultured in the presence of recombinant interleukin 2 (rIL2)
acquired potent cytotoxic activity in all cases tested. LGL did not
proliferate in response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA). However, LGL released
variable amounts of IL2 and gamma- interferon (gamma-IFN) after PHA
stimulation. In some cases, stimulation of fresh LGL with recombinant IL2
induced production of gamma-IFN. No correlation was found between the
functional capabilities and the original phenotype of the expanded LGL
populations.
Volume 68,
Issue 5,
pp. 1095-1100,
11/01/1986
Copyright © 1986 by The American Society of Hematology