CORRELATION OF T-CELL MARKER EXPRESSION AND PHA INDUCED LYMPHOPROLIFERATIVE RESPONSE IN TREATED ACUTE LEUKEMIAS PATIENTS

The correlation between T cell antigen expression and lymphoproliferat ive response (LPR) with the therapeutic outcome in 97 acute lymphoblas tic leukemia (ALL) and acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia (ANNL) patient s was studied. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were tested for the presen ce of T cell markers (CD3, CD4, CD8) with monoclonal antibodies as the first antibody, using the indirect immunofluorescence assay, and for lymphoproliferative response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) using the who le their subsets (CD4 and CD8) and LPR to PHA were significantly (p<0, 00001) decreased in both groups of leukemia patients before any anti-t umor therapy, in comparison to the values obtained in control persons. No significant correlation could be demonstrated between LPR to PHA a nd number of CD4 and CD8 positive cells in treated ALL patients (r=0,1 3; r=0,27 respectively). In ANNL patients in the course and after trea tment, a significant (p<0,01) correlation between the number of both o f the T cell subsets and PHA-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation was o bserved (r=0,43 for CD4 and r=0,49 for CD8 positive cells, respectivel y). These data indicate the possible functional incapability of CD4 an d CD8 antigens to bind mitogens and subsequently initiate peripheral b lood cell proliferation in treated ALL patients.