ALTERED PATTERN OF CYTOKINE PRODUCTION BY PERIPHERAL-BLOOD CD2-CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC-LEUKEMIA PATIENTS( CELLS FROM B)

To determine if activation-induced cytokine production is altered in C D2+ lymphocytes from B-CLL patients, cytokine levels were determined b y ELISA in supernatants of PHA-stimulated cultures of CD2+ cells from 33 B-CLL patients and 22 healthy controls, The production of Interfero n gamma (lFN-gamma) and Tumor Necrosis Factor (INF-alpha) by mitogen-a ctivated CD2+ lymphocytes from B-CLL patients was higher than that fou nd in healthy controls, while no differences were found in TNF-beta pr oduction. IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha levels determined at 72 h in PHA-sti mulated CD2+ cell cultures from B-CLL patients statistically correlate d with the percentages of CD3+CD45RO+ and CD3-CD56+ lymphocytes, respe ctively. Although there were differences in the production kinetics of interleukins (ILs)2 and 4 between B-CLL patients and the healthy cont rols, no differences were found at the time when the levels of both in terleukins peak. The production of both IFN-gamma and IL-4 by PHA-stim ulated CD2+ lymphocytes from non-smouldering B-CLL patients was signif icantly higher than that from smouldering B-CLL patients while no sign ificant differences were found in the production of IL-2, TNF-alpha, a nd TNF-beta between the two B-CLL patient groups, These data suggest t hat functional alterations in the production of cytokines by CD2+ cell s from B-CLL patients could help to explain the expansion of leukemic cells in B-CLL patients. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.