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T‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia with natural killer cell phenotype
Author(s) -
Kaplan Joseph,
Ravindranath Yaddanapudi,
Inoue Susumu
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
american journal of hematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.456
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1096-8652
pISSN - 0361-8609
DOI - 10.1002/ajh.2830220404
Subject(s) - k562 cells , antibody , natural killer cell , antigen , lytic cycle , immunology , monoclonal antibody , biology , leukemia , nk 92 , interleukin 21 , cytotoxicity , in vitro , cd8 , virus , biochemistry
To determine the type and proportion of cases within that type of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) that has a natural killer (NK) cell phenotype, we examined leukemic blasts from 31 children with ALL (14 with T‐ALL, 17 with non‐T‐ALL) for expression of antigens detected by NK‐specific monoclonal antibodies Leu 11b, Leu 7, and 1G2 (an antibody we have developed that cross‐reacts with Leu 7). None of the patients had leukemic blasts that reacted with Leu 11b. However, leukemic blasts from four T‐ALL patients were 1G2 + and/or Leu 7 + . Blasts from two of these had spontaneous lytic activity against standard NK target cell line K562; blasts from one killed K562 only when incubated with interferon; blasts from the other had no lytic activity against K562 but did manifest antibody‐dependent cell‐mediated cytotoxicity against antibody‐coated cells from NK‐resistant cell line SB. Blasts from all four Leu 7 + patients had L2 morphology. In one, the leukemic blasts had azurophilic cytoplasmic granules similar to those found in NK‐enriched normal populations of large granular lymphocytes. These findings suggest that a significant proportion of T‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias may be malignancies of NK cell origin.