Interferon induces proliferation in leukemic and normal B‐cell subsets

Abstract

³H‐thymidine incorporation following stimulation with interferon (IFN) in vitro was investigated in cell cultures from peripheral blood of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), spleens from necro‐kidney transplants and healthy blood donors. It was demonstrated, that IFN can induce a proliferative response in some normal as well as leukemic B lymphocyte subsets. The responses were not T‐cell dependant. The results indicate, that B‐cell subsets that proliferate in the presence of IFN, are present in higher proportions in spleen than in peripheral blood, and that they constitute a portion of the leukemic blood lymphocyte pool in some patients with CLL We have previously demonstrated, that IFN induces varying degrees of transformation and differentiation in blood lymphocytes from a majority of CLL patients. The functional characteristics of different B‐cell subsets, and their heterogenous distribution in leukemia, may be important for the results of IFN treatment in various malignant B‐cell disorders.