Enhanced expression of human Ia antigens by chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells following treatment with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate.

Using a panel of monoclonal antibodies which detect framework determinants of human-Ia alpha and beta polypeptides and the DC-specific monoclonal antibody Genox 353, the in vitro effects of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) on the expression of Ia antigens by cells from chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients have been studied. In all subjects studied a great increase in expression of framework Ia determinants was found following culture of CLL cells for 90 h with TPA at 10(-7) g/ml. TPA treatment of CLL cells also induced increased expression of Genox 353+ antigens, in some cases where Genox 353 binding was either negligible or not detectable in cells cultured in the absence of TPA.