Colony formation and interleukin 2 production by leukaemic human T cells
Krajewski, A.S.; Dewar, A.E.; Seidelin, P.H.; Murray, R.
Clinical and Experimental Immunology 54(1): 103-109
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0009-9104 PMID: 6604606 Document Number: 220921
PHA-induced colony formation and interleukin 2(IL-2) production were studied in 4 patients with T cell leukemia (3 cases OKT4+/T helper and 1 case OKT8+/T cytotoxic suppressor). Cases of T helper cell leukemia showed colony formation that was comparable to normal purified blood T cells and was not dependent on the addition of conditioned medium, containing IL-2 activity, to cultures. The T suppressor cell leukemia formed colonies only when cultures were supplemented with IL-2 containing medium. When IL-2 production by PHA stimulated cells was measured culture supernatants from the 3 T helper cell leukemias all showed normal or high levels of activity, when compared to normal blood mononuclear cells, whereas the T suppressor cell leukemia showed no activity.