Functional evaluation of T-lymphocytes from peripheral blood and spleens in Hodgkin's disease

Expression of Interleukin-1 and Interleukin-1 Receptors Type 1 and Type 2 in Hodgkin Lymphoma

Signaling through the IL-1-receptor type 1 (IL-1R1), IL-1 is required for initiation and maintenance of diverse activities of the immune system. A second receptor, IL-1R2, blocks IL-1 signal transduction. We studied expression of IL-1beta, IL-1R1, and IL-1R2 in 17 Hodgkin lymphomas (HL) by in situ hybridization (ISH). IL-1beta expressing cells, morphologically consistent with endothelial cells and fibroblasts, occurred in all HL tissues with elevated transcript levels in areas of active fibrosis. Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells of all cases expressed low IL-1R1 transcript levels in some tumor cells, and high levels of IL-1R2 in large proportions of HRS cells. Only few bystander cells showed low levels of IL-1R1 and IL-1R2 RNA. Supernatants of 4 out of 7 HL-derived cell lines contained soluble IL-1R2 protein at high levels. HL patient sera carried variably amounts of IL-1R2 protein with significantly increased titers in patients with active disease compared to patients in complete remission and control individuals without HL. Western blots and co-immunoprecipitations showed binding of the IL-1R2 to the intracellular IL-1R-accessory protein (IL-1IRAcP). These data suggest functions of the IL-1R2 as a „decoy-receptor” sequestrating paracrine IL-1 extracellularly and intracellularly by engaging IL-1IRAcP, thus depriving IL1-R1 molecules of their extracellular and intracellular ligands. Expression of IL1-R2 by HRS cells seems to contribute to local and systemic modulation of immune function in HL.

Activation of HHV-6 in lymphoproliferative disorders: a polymerase chain reaction-based study

HHV-6 is a latent herpes virus persisting throughout the adult life of the infected host in an integrated form and is often activated in immunocompromised situations. Detection of HHV-6 DNA in the plasma of an individual indicates the presence of active viral replication in the host. Because lymphomas are known to be associated frequently with host immunosupression, we studied activation of HHV-6 in 98 patients diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease (HD) or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). HHV-6 activation was documented in 34% of cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and 39% of those of Hodgkin's disease; however, no correlation of activation status with pathological types of Hodgkin's disease and between copy numbers in peripheral blood mononuclear cell DNA and the corresponding plasma DNA was noticeable.

Peripheral T cell receptors alpha beta and gamma delta in patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma

Antigen recognition by T cells is determined by an antigen specific T cell receptor (TCR). Two heterodimeric TCR structures associated with CD3 have been defined: TCR alpha beta and TCR gamma delta. TCR alpha beta and its function are well described but the role of TCR gamma delta in normal and lymphoproliferative disorders is not well established. In newly diagnosed or relapsed/refractory Hodgkin's disease (HD), a disease associated with defective T cell functions and increased sIL-2R, we determined levels of seven TCR alpha beta variable regions [beta V5(a), beta V5(b), beta V6(a), beta V12(a), alpha beta V(a), alpha V2(a)] and TCR gamma delta by using monoclonal antibodies (MCA). TCR gamma delta levels did not show any difference, but several variable regions of the TCR alpha beta differed when groups are compared with each other and the control group.

Peripheral T-cell lymphomas. Immunophenotype, lymphokine production, and immunologic functional characteristics of the lymph-node malignant T cells

Immunophenotype and functions of the malignant T cells to secrete various T-cell derived lymphokines and to respond in autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction (AMLR) and allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) of the six patients with peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTL) are presented. Three cases showed CD3/TcR alpha beta discordance (1 CD3+/TcR alpha beta-; 2 CD3-/TcR alpha beta+) and one showed absence of both these antigens (CD3-/TcR alpha beta-). In addition, we found that 50% of cases expressed CD25+, CD38+, and CD71+ activation antigens. The CD3/TcR alpha beta discordance and expressions of activation antigen noted in these cases were typical and similar to those reported from elsewhere. These malignant T cells from all cases whether CD25+ or CD25- (resting) expressed elevated interleukin-2 receptors (IL-2R) on stimulation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or human recombinant interleukin-2(rIL-2), and secreted elevated IL-2 by PHA, than do T cells from patients with tuberculosis (TB) or normal healthy controls. These malignant T cells also demonstrated elevated AMLR but deficient MLR B cells growth factor (BCGF) (except in one unusual case) secretion was increased, whereas B-cell differentiation factor (BCDF) secretion decreased. These results suggest that malignant T cells from lymph nodes of patients with PTL have uniform multiple immunologic defects in IL-2, BCGF, and BCDF lymphokine secretion and respond in AMLR and MLR, which do not correlate with immunophenotype or histologic types. These functions differentiate them from lymph-node T cells of patients with TB or blood T cells of normal healthy controls.

Natural killer and lymphokine activated killer cell functions in Hodgkin's disease

We report the natural killer (NK) and lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cell activities in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from untreated patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD) and from healthy donors. The frequency of LAK cell precursors was also studied using limiting dilution analysis (LDA). About 75% of the HD patients had normal NK activity. There was a higher percentage of low NK responders (mean percent NK activity of healthy donors--2 SD) in patients with lymphocyte depletion histologic grade of the disease and those who were in clinical stage IV, suggesting a correlation of decrease in NK activity with poor prognosis. We found efficient LAK activity against the NK-sensitive K562 cells and NK-resistant VIP (melanoma) and T-24 (bladder carcinoma) tumour targets in both low and normal NK responder HD patients, irrespective of the histopathological grade and clinical stage of the disease. In concordance with their good LAK cell activity, HD patients showed a frequency distribution of LAK cell progenitors in the PBL comparable to that of healthy donors.

Relationship between eosinophil density and T-cell activation markers in lymph nodes of patients with Hodgkin's disease

Hodgkin's disease (HD) is characterized morphologically by a variable infiltration of tissues by eosinophilic granulocytes. The lesions also contain numerous T cells, predominantly of the CD4+ immunophenotype. To investigate whether the presence or absence of tissue eosinophilia is related to the immunophenotype of the T cells, we studied 43 cases of HD (28 nodular sclerosing, ten mixed cellularity, and five unclassifiable) for the relative numbers of lymphocytes positive for CD2, CD3, CD4, CD5, CD8, CD25, CD38, T9, TQ1, HLA-DR, and beta F1, and for the number of eosinophils in tissue sections. By univariate and multivariate analysis, we determined that there was an inverse relationship between the number of eosinophils and the presence of TQ1+ (P less than .0005) and CD25+ (P less than .0005) lymphocytes. In addition, we observed that TQ1 stained the Reed-Sternberg cells in these lesions. We also determined that the T cells expressed HLA-DR more frequently in the nodular sclerosis subtype than in other subtypes of HD (P less than or equal to .0001). We therefore conclude that the degree of tissue eosinophilia in the lymph nodes of patients with HD may be explained, at least in part, by the immunophenotype of the T cells present in the affected lymph nodes.

Interleukin-2 mediated regulation of mitogen-activated T cell reactivity from different lymphoid sources in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity

Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from patients with oral cancer (treated and untreated), oral leukoplakia and healthy donors; lymphocytes from metastatic and non-metastatic lymph nodes (met LNL and non-met LNL); and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) were tested for proliferative response to mitogen PHA (phytohemagglutinin) and its augmentation by recombinant Interleukin-2 (rIL-2), for expression of Tac antigen (CD25) and for production of IL-2. Depressed PHA responses were found in PBL of treated and untreated patients, and in TIL. Addition of IL-2 could bring about 16% to 31% augmentation in lymphocyte response to PHA from all the three sources. PBL from 50% of healthy donors, 45% of patients with leukoplakia, 25% untreated oral cancer patients and 35% treated oral cancer patients showed IL-2 mediated augmentation of PHA response. While, 40% non-met LNL samples, 70% met LNL samples and only 23% TIL samples showed increased mitogen induced proliferation by IL-2. The augmented levels of PHA response of PBL from treated and untreated patients, and of TIL, were still below those of normal PBL. PBL from patients with leukoplakia, treated oral cancer patients and TIL showed depressed CD25 antigen expression. Depressed IL-2 production was observed only in PBL of leukoplakia patients. Thus the IL-2 mediated events of T cell activation from different lymphoid sources in patients with oral cancer did not correlate with their proliferative responses.