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Atypical T lymphoproliferative disorder demonstrating in vitro suppressor and helper characteristics
Author(s) -
Proctor S. J.,
McGregor A. M.,
Clark Jane,
McLachlan Sandra,
Dickinson Anne
Publication year - 1982
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 - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1982.tb01913.x
Subject(s) - immunology , medicine , lymphocytosis , lymphoproliferative disorders , peripheral blood mononuclear cell , pokeweed mitogen , context (archaeology) , in vitro , biology , lymphoma , paleontology , biochemistry
A patient initially diagnosed on surface marker status as having T cell chronic lymphatic leukaemia (T‐CLL) was found to have arthropathy and recurrent pulmonary infarction associated with a high anti‐DNA antibody titre. The T cells from this patient, on assessment in an in vitro pokeweed mitogen driven B cell system, demonstrated suppressor and helper characteristics but lacked antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) activity and natural killer (NK) activity. Using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBM) from patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and normals, it was shown that the patient's T cells suppressed both IgG and thyroid autoantibody production. Irradiation of the patient's PBM inhibited the suppressor effect and a residual helper effect remained. The patient was treated with systemic steroids for exacerbations of arthropathy which caused a fall in lymphocyte count. After 36 months the DNA binding activity spontaneously improved and the lymphocytosis disappeared. It is indicated that T‐cell proliferations demonstrating functional activity must be assessed within the context of any underlying non‐haematological clinical and laboratory findings.