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B lymphocyte function in multiple myeloma: Analysis of T cell‐ and monocyte‐dependent antibody production
Author(s) -
Peterson Jørgen,
Drivsholm Aage,
Brandt Mathilde,
Ambjørnsen Anne,
Dickmeiss Ebbe
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
european journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1600-0609
pISSN - 0902-4441
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0609.1989.tb01210.x
Subject(s) - pokeweed mitogen , monocyte , cytotoxic t cell , cd8 , b cell , antibody , lymphocyte , t cell , antigen , immunology , biology , medicine , immune system , microbiology and biotechnology , endocrinology , in vitro , peripheral blood mononuclear cell , biochemistry
T‐cell and B‐cell functions were studied in 35 patients with untreated multiple myeloma (MM) and in 16 patients with MM treated with prednisolone, melphalan and vincristine. The numbers of CD4+ T cells were normal in untreated MM patients, but markedly decreased in treated patients, whereas CD8+ cell numbers were normal in untreated and treated patients. Mitogen‐induced as well as antigen‐induced lymphocyte proliferative responses were reduced, but not further affected by treatment. The antigen‐induced proliferative responses by lymphocytes of treated, but not of untreated patients, correlated positively to the proportions of CD4+ cells among MNC. Taken together, the findings suggest selective loss of CD4+ subpopulations during cytotoxic treatment. Pokeweed mitogen (PWM)‐induced Ig production was generally low, but significantly reduced Ig production was only seen in experiments employing MM B cells and monocytes co‐cultured with irradiated T‐enriched cells. Irradiated MM T cells displayed normal helper function when co‐cultured with normal B cells stimulated with PWM. MM B cells and monocytes cultured with irradiated normal T cells produced little Ig; however, MM monocytes were not suppressive. In 2 of 3 patients with either IgG‐κ or IgA‐κ myeloma, the numbers of PWM‐stimulated B cells that produced κ chains were somewhat higher than those found among normal MNC. The impaired ability of antibody production by B cells from untreated MM patients seems to relate to intrinsic B cell defect(s) rather than to abnormal regulation by T cells or monocytes. However, disturbances in the functions of CD4+ cells may be observed in treated MM.