High numbers of CD4+ T cells showing abnormal recognition of DR antigens in
lymphoid organs involved by Hodgkin's disease
E Maggi, P Parronchi, D Macchia, G Bellesi and S Romagnani
Department of Clinical Immunology, University of Florence, Italy.
Purified T lymphocytes (E rosetting cells) isolated from the involved
lymphoid organs (lymph nodes and spleen) of five patients with Hodgkin's
disease (HD) were cloned under culture conditions (phytohemagglutinin plus
interleukin-2) that allow clonal expansion of most T lymphocytes. A total
number of 104 CD4+ T cell clones so obtained were tested for their ability
to proliferate in response to autologous mitomycin-treated non-T cells.
About half of these clones but none of 234 CD4+ T cell clones derived from
normal lymphoid tissues or peripheral blood displayed a proliferative
response to autologous stimulators. When clones proliferating in autologous
mixed lymphocyte reaction (AMLR) were assessed for their ability to respond
in allogeneic MLR (allo-MLR), most of them were found to exhibit consistent
proliferation in response to more than one haplotype. Both the AMLR and the
allo-MLR by HD clones were inhibited by adding monoclonal antibodies
(MoAbs) reactive with monomorphic determinants of major histocompatibility
complex (MHC) class II (DR) antigens to the cultures, whereas MoAbs
reactive with MHC class I antigens were without effect. These studies
suggest that lymphoid organs involved by HD contain high proportions of CD4
T cells showing abnormal recognition of DR antigens. These unusual cells
may play an important role in the pathogenetic mechanisms occurring in HD.
Volume 71,
Issue 5,
pp. 1503-1506,
05/01/1988
Copyright © 1988 by The American Society of Hematology
