concanavalin-a and Sezary-Syndrome

Continuously growing T- and B-cell lines were derived from peripheral blood, affected skin, and lymph nodes of patients with mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sézary syndrome (SS). Two lymphoblastoid cell lines (MF-13 and SS-2) were Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed B cells evaluated by surface immunoglobulin, lack of E-rosette formation, positive EBV nuclear antibody test, and secretion of IgM antibody in a plaque-forming cell assay. Analysis of the natural-killer-cell activity using peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with MF and healthy control persons towards MF-13 and SS-2 target cells suggested resistance to lysis even in tests supplemented with 1,000 IU/ml human gamma-interferon. However, the cell lines were not per se completely resistant to lysis because lymphocytes from control persons showed significant cytotoxicity in an 18-h assay supplemented with 2 micrograms/ml concanavalin A.

Topics: Adult; Aged; B-Lymphocytes; Cell Line; Concanavalin A; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; Female; Humans; Interferon-gamma; Killer Cells, Natural; Male; Middle Aged; Mycosis Fungoides; Sezary Syndrome; Skin Neoplasms; T-Lymphocytes

Phenotypic, functional and clinical analysis of two patients with Sezary Syndrome are presented. Both patients had an elevated lymphocyte count with the helper/inducer cell phenotype by analysis with monoclonal antibodies (OKT3+, T4+, T6-, T8-, M1-), had the characteristic cerebriform nucleus of Sezary cells, and were Fc-IgG receptor negative. The functional tests revealed no proliferative, cytotoxic or immunoregulatory activity of patient E.P.'s leukemic cells, while the lymphocytes of patient A.N. responded to mitogen stimulation and had helper cell capacity in pokeweed mitogen driven B cell differentiation and maturation. Both patients presented skin involvement, pruritus, hepatomegaly and patient E.P. showed generalized lymphadenopathy. The spleen size of patient A.N. was below the normal range with an estimated spleen weight of approximately 160 g (normal 180-229 g). Patient E.P. had an extremely small spleen size with an estimated weight of approximately 20 g as shown by abdominal sonography and spleen scintigraphy and had Howell-Jolly bodies within the erythrocytes. The size of the spleen in various other diseases with T cell proliferations is discussed with respect to the possible proliferative centers of the various T-cell subpopulations.

Topics: Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity; Antibody-Producing Cells; Concanavalin A; Female; Humans; Killer Cells, Natural; Lymphocyte Activation; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating; Phytohemagglutinins; Sezary Syndrome; Splenic Diseases; T-Lymphocytes

Heteroantisera raised to the acute lymphocytic T (ALL) cell line HSB2 and to Sézary cells react with distinct subpopulations of T lymphocytes. Each antiserum reacts with a different T cell antigen and defines a distinct subpopulation that represents approximately 50% of peripheral blood T lymphocytes. The anti-HSB2-positive subpopulation contained suppressor cells for pokeweed mitogen-dependent immunoglobin (Ig) synthesis whereas the anti-Sézary cell serum-positive population included helper cells for Ig synthesis and mixed lymphocyte responder cells.

Topics: Antigens; Cell Line; Concanavalin A; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; Humans; Immunoglobulins; Leukemia, Lymphoid; Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; Sezary Syndrome; T-Lymphocytes