GAMMA (IMMUNE) INTERFERON-PRODUCTION BY LEUKOCYTES FROM A PATIENT WITH A TG CELL PROLIFERATIVE DISEASE

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 59  (1) , 198-201
Abstract
A patient is reported with a disease characterized by proliferation of T cells with Fc receptors for IgG (TG). However, unlike lymphoid cells from normal individuals or from patients with other lymphoid malignancies, the patient''s lymphocytes spontaneously produced .gamma.-interferon (IFN-.gamma.) in vitro. The peripheral lymphocytes consisted of 95% TG cells, which exhibited the morphological characteristics of T cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and were normal on cytochemical and chromosome analysis. The majority of TG cells were [monoclonal antibody] OKT3+, OKT8+ and OKTr-, 3A1-. These cells failed to express suppressor cell activity and displayed depressed levels of natural killer activity, but mediated antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. The spontaneous production of IFN-.gamma. by human peripheral lymphoid cells as demonstrated in this study may serve as a probe for studying the relationship between IFN-.gamma. and the proliferation of human T cell subsets.