NATURE OF THE T-LYMPHOCYTES IN LYMPHOCYTE PREDOMINANCE HODGKINS-DISEASE

Little is known about the function of the T lymphocytes in lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin's disease. We report here the case of a 37-year-o ld man with a diffuse LPHD, featuring a similar increase in T lymphocy tes in both the peripheral blood and the tumor, thus allowing for thei r characterization by functional assays. These cells were CD4+CD45ROand produced high amounts of IL-2 and IFN-gamma, consistent with a T(H )1 type profile. This subset of T helper cells is involved in cellular immunity and could reflect a cytotoxic reaction directed against the neoplastic cells.