Abstract
Growth and differentiation of mature lymphocytes is regulated by lymphokines. Some of these T-cell derived factors are also involved in the development of precursor cells. To investigate, whether T-cell factors are involved in the growth of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells of non-T-non-B-type, we have cultured bone marrow cells of ALL patients in the presence of: 1. normal culture medium, 2. supernatant (SN) from stimulated monocytes, 3. SN from stimulated tonsillar T-cells, 4. Lymphocult-T-LF (Biotest).In three out of eight cases studied so far the malignant cell continued to proliferate in the presence of tonsillar T-cell SN for up to three weeks. In contrast, in the presence of medium or the other SN tested, the cells died rapidly in vitro. Furthermore, dosedependent growth induction by tonsillar T SN could be demonstrated by 3H-Thymidine uptake. Phenotypically all cases studied have been classified as common-ALL expressing markers of B-cells defined by monoclonal antibodies. In addition to this particular phenotype, the clinical course in two patients showed progressive disease despite intensive chemotherapy. According to BFM-83 protocol, both patients had a low risk factor with respect to relapse. Thus, investigstions on growth regulation in ALL cells in vitro may not only give new insights into the biology of ALL, but may also be important by functionally defining particular subgroups of ALL.
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Debatin, K., Brandeis, W. GROWTH FACTOR REACTIVE MALIGNANT CELLS IN ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKEMIA. Pediatr Res 19, 1084 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198510000-00100
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198510000-00100