Abstract
Summary The relationship between α‐interferon receptor (αIFNR) numbers, B‐cell‐antigen expression and clinical stage was determined in 35 cases of typical chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). αIFNR numbers were shown to be low in patients with advanced disease and high in those with a more favourable prognosis. The B‐cell activation antigen CD 23 was similarly related to stage, being high in more favourable disease. Also, αIFNR expression was directly related to CD 23 positivity, but αIFN binding was not inhibited by CD 23 monoclonal antibody. There was no correlation between CD 19, 20, 22 and 24 antigen expression and either αIFNR numbers or clinical stage.Since CD23 antigen expression is a feature of B‐cell activation, we suggest that high CD23 and αIFNR positivity are manifestations of an activated cell phenotype and that cell activation in CLL is a feature of favourable disease.

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