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Analysis of blood T‐cell cytokine expression in B‐chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: evidence for increased levels of cytoplasmic IL‐4 in resting and activated CD8 T cells
Author(s) -
MU XI,
KAY NEIL E.,
GOSLAND MICHAEL P.,
JENNINGS C. DARRELL
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2141.1997.d01-2107.x
Subject(s) - cd8 , cytokine , immunology , medicine , cytotoxic t cell , interleukin 10 , biology , immune system , biochemistry , in vitro
The cytoplasmic cytokines of purified blood T cells (CD4/C]D8) in B‐CLL patients ( n = 5) and controls ( n =5) were evaluated by flow cytometry. The mean levels of cytoplasmic IL‐4 were significantly elevated in resting and activated B‐CLL CD8 cells compared to control CD8 cells. IL‐4 cytoplasmic levels were comparable for resting B‐CLL and control CD4 cells but greater for B‐CLL activated CD4 cells. The mean fluorescence intensity of B‐CLL CD8 cytoplasmic IL‐4 was 4–5‐fold greater, indicating higher IL‐4 density per CLL CD8 than control CD8 cells. Both CLL CD4 and CD8 cells post‐activation had higher levels of cells double positive for cytoplasmic IL‐4 and interferon. These data indicate that freshly isolated CD8 and CD4 blood T cells from B‐CLL patients have significantly elevated (above control) levels of commitment to expression of IL‐4. Since IL‐4 has an important modulatory impact on CLL and normal B cells, this observation has implications regarding the biology of B‐CLL.