Phorbol ester-induced production of beta-2-microglobulin in B-CLL cells: relation to IgM secretory response and disease activity

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Abstract
Summary. Earlier studies have indicated that serum β2m levels correlate with the disease activity, estimated tumour cell mass and prognosis of CLL. We have therefore analysed the spontaneous and phorbol ester (TPA)-induced capacity of CLL cells to produce β2m in vitro in relation to disease activity. Cell cultures (>90% B cells) from 15 patients with active disease contained significantly higher (P2m (0·22·0±09 mg/l) than cultures from 17 patients with inactive CLL (0·08·0±06). When TPA-induced CLL cell cultures were compared, this difference was even more striking (0·48·0±18 versus 0·13·0±09). The capacity of TPA-treated B-CLL cells to export β2m was positively correlated with their capacity to secrete monoclonal IgM (r=0·73;P2m export by B-CLL cells is enhanced by accessory T cells. Four individual CLL patients were followed for 14 months and repeatedly investigated for signs and symptoms of active disease, and the CLL cells were tested for in vitro production of β2m. Fluctuations in the clinical activity of the leukaemia were paralleled by similar switches in CLL cell production of β2m.

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