Immuno-phenotype and proliferative response of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Abstract

This study examines the immunophenotypic profiles in both pretreated and treated CLL patients which could be useful from the prognosis point of view. Patients suffering from B CLL and having IgG markers were relatively more aggressive than cells bearing IgM phenotypes. Male predominance is observed in male/female ratio in this disease. B CLL showed heterogeneity by showing reactivity against various T cell markers such as CD5 (present on mature T cells) and also CD4 (T helper/inducer), CD8 (T suppressor/cytotoxic) and a very high percentage of Ia (HLA-DR). The proliferative response to cells to stimulation with PHA and PWM indicated that there is a primary defect in the capacity of these small lymphocytes to undergo a proliferative response due to an intrinsic defect in the B lymphocytes. This study also reflects a maturation arrest in the later developmental stage of B lymphopoiesis. The three findings which are novel are the difference in prognosis between IgG-IgM and IgG, the changes in T cell subsets and the mitogenic response.