[BACKGROUND - The immune system has several mechanisms to fight against developing malignant cell clones in the host, one of them is the activated T-cell response. Both CD4+ helper and CD8+ cytotoxic T-cells bear CD69 and HLA-DR molecules as important surface activation markers. AIM - Our aim was to determine, how the ratio of activated T-cells change in the peripheral blood of non-Hodgkin-lymphoma patients during the periods of polychemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS - We used the peripheral blood samples of 43 non-Hodgkin-lymphoma’s patients (20 females, 23 males, mean age 52.4 years). We determined the level of CD3+/HLADR+ and CD3+/CD69+ T-cell subsets before, during and after the periods of polychemotherapy, using the methods of immunofluorescence stain and flow cytometry. RESULTS - We found the ratio of CD3+/HLA-DR+ cells significantly higher in non-Hodgkin-lymphoma’s patients before treatment compared to healthy controls (10.63% vs. 2.97%, p<0.001). During the period of polychemotherapy, this ratio began to increase significantly (16.94% vs. 10.63%, p=0.006). The level of CD3+/CD69+ cells did not change significantly. After treatment, the ratio of activated T-cells decreased, however, we detected significantly higher rate of CD3+/HLA-DR+ lymphocytes in patients who relapsed within one year than in those who stayed in remission (9.55% vs. 20.62%, p<0.001). CONCLUSION - Investigation of CD3+/HLA-DR+ activated T-cells might be a promising method to determine the immune defence and this way the prognostics of lymphoma patients.]

[OBJECTIVES - Immunosuppression has long been known to be associated with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The authors report on immunologic abnormalities with special focus on cellular immunity in patients with Hodgkin’s disease in complete remission. METHODS - We determined the proportion of the lymphocytes subpopulations, activated T cells, CD4+/CD25+ suppressor T cell population and intracytoplasmic cytokines by flow cytometry. The soluble cytokines were measured by classical ELISA technique. RESULTS - Based on lymphocyte cell surface antigen expression the subpopulations were as described in the literature, however a unique elevation of CD4+/CD25+ cell fraction was detected. The decreased amount of IFN-γ in the serum suggest Th2 dominance, but reduced intracellular IL-4 production in both CD4+ and CD8+ cells results from Th1 dominance. These results somewhat contrary but can not be completely compared as in vivo and in vitro techniques used for the analysis are not identical. However a constant elevation concentration and expression of IL-10 and TGF-β is observed. CONCLUSION - These alterations may reflect the existence of an immunosuppressive state also in the peripheral blood of Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients not only in the lymph nodes.]

[Interferon-α, -β, and -γ have been used for the management of several diseases with varying clinical effects. Like many other proteins, all interferon species are potentially immunogenics especially those produced by recombinant gene technologies. A reliable screening assay for anti-interferon-β antibodies is suggested for patients with multiple sclerosis receiving interferon-β therapy. Natural interferon-β is a glycosylated 166 amino acid 25 kDa protein, recombinant interferon-β is available for therapy as 1a and 1b products. Both preparations induce anti-interferon-β antibodies, detectable in the serum of interferon-β-treated patients with multiple sclerosis. The question of wich assay is optimal for testing for antiinterferon- β antibodies in interferon-β-treated patients is unsettled. Two types of antibody assays are generally used: those measuring binding antibodies and those measuring neutralizing antibodies. The findings suggest that high titers of both binding and neutralizing antibodies reduce the clinical efficacy of interferon-β in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, which is important for the long-term efficacy of these drugs. Treatment with glatiramer acetat has also been shown to induce the development of “reactive antibodies” in patients with multiple sclerosis. This article briefly describes some of the findings concerning anti-interferon binding and neutralizing antibodies.]

[INTRODUCTION - Accumulating evidences suggest that non-T, non-B cell CD4+/CD56+ neoplasms with lymphoblastic morphology include clinically and immunophenotypically diverse entities. Although their cells of origin or classification are still controversial several entities clearly represent a distinct type of neoplasms that are clinically aggressive. CASE REPORT - In this work we present the immunophenotypic and genotypic features of bone marrow, peripheral blood, lymph node and skin lymphocytes from a patient diagnosed as plasmacytoid dendritic cell leukemia involving the skin, bone marrow, peripheral blood, lymph nodes, liver and spleen. For determination of immunophenotypic characteristics of malignant plasmacytoid dendritic cells 73 monoclonal antibodies detecting lineage markers, chemokine receptors, cytokine receptors, activation and co-stimulatory molecules were used. The malignant cells proved to express CD4+, CD56+ lineage negative leukemia phenotype characteristically positive for CD36, CD38, CD40, CD45, CD45RA, CD68, CD123, CD184, HLA-DR, BDCA2 and granzyme-B corresponding to the preplasmacitoid dendritic cell developmental stage. CONCLUSION - The presence of CD11a/CD18, CD84, CD91, CD95, αvβ5, CDw197 and the absence of CD52 and CD133 in this case can be regarded as additional features of malignant cells.]

[Immunophenotyping is commonly used in evaluating malignancies of the lympho-hemopoietic system and its use in various disease states of mature lymphoid leukemias and related non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas is reviewed here. The major goals of immunophenotyping in mature lymphoid neoplasias are the assignment of abnormal cells to the B or T/NK linkage, their maturational analysis, and the characterization of specific phenotypes which might be helpful for the subclassification of disease. There is not known, however, any lymphoma (leukemia) -specific antigen and the individual type of lymphoid leukemias and lymphomas does not follow the antigen expression profile of normal differentiation. Therefore, the approach to analysis of lymphoid neoplasias requires thoughtful utilization of laboratory testing, in order to meet both medical and economic goals of the laboratory and caregivers. The interpreter should expect to see a pattern of both positive and negative immunoreactivities that is appropriate to the final interpretation. The value and type of information provided by immunophenotyping in these malignancies varies and this paper outlines approaches for clinicians and laboratorians to follow when reviewing clinical data. The future for this technology is outstanding because it is the only one available today that can both rapidly and accurately measure multiple correlated cell properties. However, combined clinical-laboratory approach to diagnosis and prognostication seems to be important including traditional and newer (molecular genetic, molecular biology) methodologies.]