Expansion of Vdelta1 T lymphocytes producing IL-4 in low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphomas expressing UL-16-binding proteins

Blood. 2007 Mar 1;109(5):2078-85. doi: 10.1182/blood-2006-06-028985. Epub 2006 Sep 14.

Abstract

Data on 23 patients with low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs), 4 mantle (MT), 4 marginal zone (MZ), and 15 follicular (FL), were analyzed and compared with 10 high-risk (HR) B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemias (B-CLLs) with lymph node involvement and 4 diffuse large-cell lymphomas (DLCLs). A significant increase in circulating Vdelta1 T lymphocytes producing interleukin-4 (IL-4) was found in patients with FL, MT, and MZ NHL, at variance with DLCL and HR B-CLL. IL-4 was also detectable in the sera and lymph nodes of the same patients. In 19 of the 23 patients with NHL with increased circulating Vdelta1 T lymphocytes, B cells expressing the UL-16-binding proteins (ULBPs) ULBP2 or ULBP3 or both were found in peripheral blood, bone marrow, or lymph nodes. Of note, in HR B-CLL or in DLCL, where leukemic cells were negative for ULBPs, no Vdelta1 T-cell increase was found. Moreover, Vdelta1 T lymphocytes from patients with FL NHL proliferate in response to ULBP2+ and ULBP3+ lymphoma cells. Finally, patients with high expression of ULBPs, increased circulating Vdelta1 T lymphocytes, and high levels of serum IL-4 showed stable disease in a 1-year follow-up in contrast to patients with low circulating Vdelta1 T cells and undetectable IL-4 or ULBPs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • GPI-Linked Proteins
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / genetics
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin delta-Chains / metabolism*
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Interleukin-4 / biosynthesis*
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / classification
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / genetics
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / metabolism*
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / pathology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Protein Binding
  • T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • Transcription, Genetic / genetics

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • GPI-Linked Proteins
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • Immunoglobulin delta-Chains
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • ULBP2 protein, human
  • ULBP3 protein, human
  • Interleukin-4