Ti (WT31)-negative, CD3-positive, large granular lymphocyte leukemia with
nonspecific cytotoxicity
K Oshimi, S Hoshino, M Takahashi, M Akahoshi, H Saito, Y Kobayashi, H Hirai, F Takaku, N Yahagi and Y Oshimi
Department of Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical College, Japan.
A case of WT31-, CD3+ large granular lymphocyte leukemia is reported. On
surface marker analysis, the proliferating cells were found to be
CD3+4-8-16+ and WT31-. By two-color immunofluorescence staining, CD3+4- 8-
cells were found to be WT31-, and a small population of WT31+ cells
expressed either CD4 or CD8. WT31-, CD3+ cells were also identified in a
bulk culture of lymphocytes expanded in vitro. Because WT31 monoclonal
antibody (MoAb) reacts with the nonpolymorphic epitope of the
disulfide-linked heterodimer of the T cell antigen receptor (Ti), the
absence of the WT31-reactive Ti determinant may represent an expression of
different CD3-associated polypeptides. The rearrangement of the Ti-beta and
Ti-gamma genes but not the immunoglobulin gene was demonstrated, and the
single pattern of rearrangement indicated the monoclonal origin of the
lymphocytes. When the lymphocytes were assayed for their cytotoxicity
against K562, MOLT-4, Daudi, and Raji tumor cell lines, a broad spectrum of
cytotoxicity for these tumor cells was observed, and the lymphocytes also
exhibited antibody- and lectin- dependent cellular cytotoxicity and
lymphokine-activated killer activity. Treatment with anti-CD2 and anti-CD3
MoAbs inhibited their nonspecific cytotoxicity. The anti-CD3-mediated
inhibition of nonspecific cytotoxicity suggested that an as yet
unidentified Ti, present in association with the CD3 molecule on these
lymphocytes, serves as a specific receptor for target tumor cell
recognition.
Volume 71,
Issue 4,
pp. 923-931,
04/01/1988
Copyright © 1988 by The American Society of Hematology
