High Frequency of T Regulatory Cells in Patients with B-Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (B-CLL) Is Decreased by Thalidomide and Fludarabine Treatment.

Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 2108-2108
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Giannopoulos ◽  
Michael Schmitt ◽  
Paulina Wlasiuk ◽  
Malgorzata Kowal ◽  
Monika Podhorecka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽  
B Cell ◽  
T Regulatory Cells ◽  
Absolute Number ◽  
Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽  
Regulatory Cells ◽  
Stage Of Disease ◽  
Early Stages ◽  
Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Abstract Background and Aims: Immunotherapy might represent a novel therapeutical option for patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL). Especially patients with limited tumor burden are usually regarded as suitable group for immunotherapy. However the existence of several molecular changes resulting in immunosuppression was reported even in patients with early stages of disease. In current study we assessed the expression of CD25 and FOXP3 in CD4 cells from patients with B-CLL. We also evaluated the influence of immunomodulatory treatment using thalidomide and fludarabine on T regulatory cells (Tregs) population in patients with B-CLL. Methods: Forty B-CLL patients (mean age: 64,1, range: 37 – 79) were evaluated for the expression of CD4, CD25 as well as specific transcription factor FOXP-3 (Forkhead box protein P3) by FACS analysis. Results were compared to those obtained in healthy volunteers (HV). Mixed lymphocyte cell culture with synthetic peptide (MLPC) that correspond to epitope of tumor associated antigen RHAMM, survivin or fibromodulin were perform to assess antitumor T cell reactivity in B-CLL patients. Results: We identified subpopulation of CD4+CD25highFOXP3+ T cells that phenotypically corresponds to Tregs in B-CLL patients. Increased levels of Tregs were observed in B-CLL patients. Significantly higher percentages of Tregs were noted in advanced stages of disease, 11.04% in stage 0-II vs 17.84% in stage III and IV according to Rai classification (Fig1a). No correlation between Tregs percentages and ZAP-70 status was shown, interestingly a tendency to higher percentages in ZAP-70 negative patients was observed 9.9% vs. 13.2%. In 9 CLL patients treated with thalidomide and fludarabine significant reduction of absolute number of circulating Tregs after thalidomide was observed (Fig.1b), in 7 this decrease was enhanced by addition of fludarabine to the treatment. First results from MLPC showed no correlation between specific T cell responses against TAA and presence of T regulatory cells. Conclusion: Increased number of Treg cells in patients with B-CLL suggests that immunosuppression is present in B-CLL patients not only in advanced but also in early stages of disease, and that T cell mediated immune rejection of CLL cell might be hampered by Treg cell. Effective treatment of B-CLL with novel schema combining immunomodulatory drug thalidomide with fludarabine seems to be effective in getting rid of excess of circulating Tregs. Figure 1. A. T regulatory cells in HV and CLL patients in early (0-II) and advanced (III-IV) stage of disease. B. Absolute number of T regulatory cells (CD4+CD25highFOX3+) during thalidomide + fludarabine treatment. Figure 1. A. T regulatory cells in HV and CLL patients in early (0-II) and advanced (III-IV) stage of disease. B. Absolute number of T regulatory cells (CD4+CD25highFOX3+) during thalidomide + fludarabine treatment.

Analysis of T-cell subsets in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia: A correlation with the stage of disease

1984 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Mittelman ◽  
T. Denny ◽  
D. Gebhard ◽  
C. Cirrincione ◽  
E. Kurland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽  
T Cell Subsets ◽  
Stage Of Disease ◽  
Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

scholarly journals Defective T cell-mediated, isotype-specific immunoglobulin regulation in B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Blood ◽  
1988 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 1012-1020 ◽  
Author(s):  
JS Moore ◽  
MB Prystowsky ◽  
RG Hoover ◽  
EC Besa ◽  
PC Nowell
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
B Cells ◽  
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Cell Activity ◽  
Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽  
Specific Immunoglobulin ◽  
Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

The consistent occurrence of T cell abnormalities in patients with B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) suggest that the non- neoplastic host T cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of this B cell neoplasm. Because potential defects of immunoglobulin regulation are evident in B-CLL patients, we investigated one aspect of this by studying the T cell-mediated immunoglobulin isotype-specific immunoregulatory circuit in B-CLL. The existence of class-specific immunoglobulin regulatory mechanisms mediated by Fc receptor-bearing T cells (FcR + T) through soluble immunoglobulin binding factors (IgBFs) has been well established in many experimental systems. IgBFs can both suppress and enhance B cell activity in an isotype-specific manner. We investigated the apparently abnormal IgA regulation in a B-CLL patient (CLL249) whose B cells secrete primarily IgA in vitro. Enumeration of FcR + T cells showed a disproportionate increase in IgA FcR + T cells in the peripheral blood of this patient. Our studies showed that the neoplastic B cells were not intrinsically unresponsive to the suppressing component of IgABF produced from normal T cells, but rather the IgABF produced by the CLL249 host T cells was defective. CLL249 IgABF was unable to suppress IgA secretion by host or normal B cells and enhanced the in vitro proliferation of the host B cells. Size fractionation of both normal and CLL249 IgABF by gel-filtration high- performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) demonstrated differences in the ultraviolet-absorbing components of IgABF obtained from normal T cells v that from our patient with defective IgA regulation. Such T cell dysfunction may not be restricted to IgA regulation, since we have found similar expansion of isotype-specific FcR + T cells associated with expansion of the corresponding B cell clone in other patients with B-CLL. These data suggest that this T cell-mediated regulatory circuit could be significantly involved in the pathogenesis of B-CLL.

scholarly journals Rearrangement and expression of T cell antigen receptor genes in B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Blood ◽  
1988 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 178-185
Author(s):  
JD Norton ◽  
J Pattinson ◽  
AV Hoffbrand ◽  
H Jani ◽  
JC Yaxley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Germ Line ◽  
Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽  
Gene Transcript ◽  
Prolymphocytic Leukemia ◽  
Beta 2 ◽  
Beta Gene ◽  
Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Fifty-nine patients with B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) were screened for clonal rearrangement of T cell receptor (TCR) beta and gamma chain genes. Four were found with rearranged TCR beta genes, but none had detectable rearrangement of TCR gamma genes. One typical patient with B-CLL had a TCR beta gene structure consistent with a variable-diversity-joining rearrangement into the C beta 2 gene on one allele. An apparently identical rearrangement pattern was seen in a second patient, which suggested that there may be a restriction on the repertoire of possible TCR beta gene recombinations in mature B cells. Two further patients had a simple deletion of sequences, consistent with a diversity-joining rearrangement into C beta 2 on one allele. All four patients had rearrangements of immunoglobulin heavy- and light- chain genes typical of mature B cell malignancies. However, on review of clinical, morphological, and immunophenotype data, two had features consistent with B cell prolymphocytic leukemia or B lymphoma, and a third had progressed to a prolymphocytic transformation. Low-level expression of a predominantly 1.0- to 1.2-kilobase germ line TCR beta gene transcript was detected in several B-CLLs and at a comparable level in the four with rearranged TCR beta genes. This, together with the low frequency of TCR gene rearrangement, suggests that most B-CLL cases arise at a developmental stage when factors required for TCR gene activity are not operative.

scholarly journals Effect of a thymic factor on T lymphocytes in B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia: in vitro and in vivo studies

Blood ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 667-671 ◽  
Author(s):  
F Lauria ◽  
D Raspadori ◽  
S Tura
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽  
T Lymphocytes ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Proliferative Response ◽  
Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Abstract Abnormalities of T lymphocytes in B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) have been extensively documented by several immunologic investigations. Following recent studies pointing to the favorable effect of TP-1, a partially purified extract of calf thymus, on the T cell-mediated immunity of several diseases, including Hodgkin's disease, we have used monoclonal antibodies and the enriched T lymphocytes of 16 untreated B-CLL patients to evaluate the proportion of T cell subsets before and after the administration of TP-1. In addition, the proliferative response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and the helper function in a pokeweed mitogen (PWM) system were assessed. In ten cases, the effect of TP-1 was also studied in vitro by evaluating the same parameters before and after incubation of B-CLL T cells with the drug. The study demonstrated that in vivo administration of TP-1 increases significantly (P less than .001) the proportion of the defective helper/inducer T cell population (OKT4-positive cells) in B-CLL, leading to a near normal OKT4/OKT8 ratio. Furthermore, the improved phenotypic profile was accompanied by an increased proliferative response to PHA and, in particular, by a significant increase (P less than .01) of T helper capacity; this increase was, however, insufficient to enable the normalization of the serum immunoglobulin levels. The in vitro incubation of B-CLL T lymphocytes did not succeed in producing significant modifications in distribution and function.

CD40-Activated B-Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Cells for Tumor Immunotherapy: Stimulation of Allogeneic Versus Autologous T Cells Generates Different Types of Effector Cells

Blood ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 93 (6) ◽  
pp. 1992-2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raymund Buhmann ◽  
Annette Nolte ◽  
Doreen Westhaus ◽  
Bertold Emmerich ◽  
Michael Hallek
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Tumor Antigens ◽  
Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽  
T Cell Anergy ◽  
Cell Anergy ◽  
Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽  
Stimulation Of

Although spontaneous remissions may rarely occur in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL), T cells do generally not develop a clinically significant response against B-CLL cells. Because this T-cell anergy against B-CLL cells may be caused by the inability of B-CLL cells to present tumor-antigens efficiently, we examined the possibility of upregulating critical costimulatory (B7-1 and B7-2) and adhesion molecules (ICAM-1 and LFA-3) on B-CLL cells to improve antigen presentation. The stimulation of B-CLL cells via CD40 by culture on CD40L expressing feeder cells induced a strong upregulation of costimulatory and adhesion molecules and turned the B-CLL cells into efficient antigen-presenting cells (APCs). CD40-activated B-CLL (CD40-CLL) cells stimulated the proliferation of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Interestingly, stimulation of allogeneic versus autologous T cells resulted in the expansion of different effector populations. Allogeneic CD40-CLL cells allowed for the expansion of specific CD8+cytolytic T cells (CTL). In marked contrast, autologous CD40-CLL cells did not induce a relevant CTL response, but rather stimulated a CD4+, Th1-like T-cell population that expressed high levels of CD40L and released interferon-γ in response to stimulation by CD40-CLL cells. Together, these results support the view that CD40 activation of B-CLL cells might reverse T-cell anergy against the neoplastic cell clone, although the character of the immune response depends on the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) background on which the CLL or tumor antigens are presented. These findings may have important implications for the design of cellular immunotherapies for B-CLL.

Superagonistic Anti-CD28 Antibody TGN1412 as a Potential Immunotherapeutic for the Treatment of B Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.

Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 2519-2519 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chia-Huey Lin ◽  
Thomas Kerkau ◽  
Christine Guntermann ◽  
Martin Trischler ◽  
Niklas Beyersdorf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Mhc Class Ii ◽  
T Cell Activation ◽  
Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽  
Leukemic Cells ◽  
Activation Markers ◽  
Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Abstract B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) is characterised by an accumulation of malignant B cells, and impaired humoral and cellular immune responses. Evasion strategies of leukemic cells appear to involve down-regulation of co-stimulatory molecules as well as increased resistance to apoptosis. Here we provide data supporting a novel concept to treat B-CLL with a humanized, superagonistic monoclonal antibody specific for CD28 (TGN1412). Superagonistic anti-CD28 antibodies have been shown to activate human T cells in vitro without requirement for engagement of the T cell antigen receptor (Luhder et al., J. Exp. Med. 2003. 197(8):955–66). Indicative of their activation, TGN1412-triggered T cells from healthy donors upregulate, among other activation markers, CD40L, that has been reported to promote anti-leukemic effects when ectopically expressed on B-CLL cells (Wierda et al., Blood. 2000. 96 (9): 2917–2924). In this report, the responses of PBMCs from B-CLL patients to soluble TGN1412 were examined. We show that in a dose-dependent fashion, polyclonal T cell activation was induced by TGN1412 including proliferation, cytokine production and induction of activation markers such as CD25, CD71, CD134 (Ox40), CTLA-4 (CD152) and CD154 (CD40L). Significantly, modulation of malignant B-CLL cells was also observed. MHC class II molecules (HLA-DR), CD95 and the co-stimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86, but not the proliferation marker Ki-67, were strongly up-regulated upon TGN1412 stimulation. These data suggested that improved antigen-presenting functions of B-CLL cells were induced by TGN1412. Accordingly, preliminary data indicate that B-CLL cells isolated from TGN1412 stimulated cultures induced enhanced proliferation of both allogeneic and autologous T cells, and importantly, TGN1412 activated T cells exhibited enhanced CTL-activity against B-CLL cells. In conclusion, our data suggest that TGN1412 induces polyclonal T cell expansion and activation as well as increased APC function of B-CLL cells. They imply that TGN1412 may have future therapeutic benefit for B-CLL patients.

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