T cells and CD45R expression in B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

A major secondary immunodeficiency exists in B cell derived chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) which involves both humoral and cellular immunity and is largely unexplained. Several T cell subset redistributions have been noted in B-CLL. We therefore examined in more detail the immunophenotype of T cells by assessing CD45R expression using a two-colour immunofluorescence technique. The proportion of CD45R+ cells among CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ cells in B-CLL was significantly (p less than 0.001) higher than in corresponding normal cell populations. We also sought relationships between major T cell subsets and progress of disease and found strongly positive correlations between the total leukocyte count in B-CLL and numbers of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ cells and monocytes. Further, in patients with clinically more advanced disease, CD3+ and CD4+ cells were present in higher numbers than in patients with less advanced disease (p less than 0.05). CD8+ cells, CD4/CD8 ratio, monocytes and total leukocyte count were not significantly different when comparing the less advanced and more advanced disease patients. An excess of CD45R+ suppressor-inducer T cells has implications for both B and T cell dysfunction and for disease progression.