Heterogeneity of T-lymphocyte chronic lymphatic leukaemia (CLL). Study with conventional surface markers and monoclonal antibodies.

Abstract

Lymphocyte surface markers (E-SRBC, EAC, EA gamma and SmIg) and monoclonal antibodies (OKT3, OKT4, OKT8 and OKIa) were used to characterise the blood and bone marrow lymphocytes of T-cell CLL (8 patients). The diagnosis of T-cell CLL was made primarily as the majority of blood lymphocytes formed E-SRBC in each patient. Other markers-EAC, EA gamma and SmIg--showed different patterns of association with E-SRBC. These findings considered together described 4 different phenotypes amongst these patients: (a) E+ (3 patients), (b) E+, EAC+ (1 patient), (c) E+, EA gamma + (2 patients), and (d) E+, SmIg+ (2 patients). Similarly, 4 different groups were defined with the help of monoclonal antibodies. Helper T-cell (3 patients) and suppressor T-cell (1 patient) CLL showed predominantly helper T- and suppressor T-lymphocytes respectively. Mixed T-cell CLL (1 patient) comprised an equal proportion of both subpopulations, while the remaining 3 patients, with excess of one or other subpopulations along with a considerable proportion of Ia antigen-bearing lymphocytes, formed the indeterminate cell type CLL.