T-cell functional abnormality in B-chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: evidence of a defect of the T-helper subset

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Abstract
Helper and suppressor capacity of T, T.mu. (T non.gamma.) and T.gamma. cells was assessed in a group of patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) in a pokeweed mitogen (PWM) stimulated system. The enriched T-cells (E-rosette positive) from all B-CLL cases showed a reduced capacity to induce differentiation of normal B-lymphocytes compared with normal T-cells (P < 0.005). After enrichment of the T.mu. cells, the helper/inducer capacity was still significantly depressed compared with the same fraction from normal controls (P < 0.01). Enriched T.gamma. cells from B-CLL were effective in suppressing the differentiation of normal B-lymphocytes to a similar degree as normal T.gamma. cells. Data suggest a deficient T-cell helper function in B-CLL, which appears to be unrelated to the clinical stage of the disease. Fractionation experiments suggest that this functional impairment is due to the abnormal T-cell subset distribution seen in the majority of cases and to a possible intrinsic defect within the T.mu. cell population.