CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKAEMIA AND THE MIXED LYMPHOCYTE REACTION

Abstract

The lymphocytes from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia  (CLL)  have been studied  in  the mixed lymphocyte reaction  (MLR)  using both  the  two-way  (both populations  viable)  and one-way (only  one viable  population)  systems.   The  ABO antigens  were  matched  but  the  pairs  were  selected for at least two antigenic differences of the HL-A system. The lymphocytes  of  the  patients  were  as capable as normal cells of invoking a response in allogeneic normal lymphocytes.  Conversely, barely any response was produced when the lymphocytes of the patients were exposed to non-viable normal allogeneic cells. The failure of the leukaemic lymphocytes to respond adequately  in the MLR is correlated with a very poor response to phytohaemagglutinin  and  may  be contrasted  with  the  definite positive  responses obtained  with specific  antigens.