T-CELL MEDIATED POLYCLONAL B-CELL ACTIVATION IN A CASE OF B-CELL LYMPHOMA ASSOCIATED WITH POLYCLONAL HYPERGAMMAGLOBULINEMIA

The mechanism of abnormal immunoglobulin production in non-Hodgkin's l ymphoma is still poorly understood. We report a case of B-cell type no n-Hodgkin's lymphoma associated with marked elevated polyclonal hyper- gammaglobulinemia (serum IgG was 7598 mg/dl; IgM, 455 mg/dl). We condu cted a mixed lymphocyte culture test using peripheral lymphocytes obta ined from the patient and a healthy volunteer. After co-culture with t he patient's CD3(+) cells, not only the patient's CD3(-) cells but als o control CD3(-) cells produced greater amounts of IgG and IgM. Elevat ed IL-6 was also detected from the patient's CD3(+) cells, This strong ly suggests that B-lymphoma cells stimulate CD3(+) cells to produce IL -6 and hence activate normal CD3(-) cells.