Proliferation of B Cells from Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Is Selectively Promoted by B Cell Growth Factor

Abstract
B cell activation was studied in B cells from B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) patients. After in vitro stimulation, these B cells showed extensive proliferation in the presence of high-molecular-weight B cell growth factor (BCGF). In contrast, this effect was not observed upon addition of recombinant interleukin-2 (IL-2). In agreement, upon stimulation, B cells expressed Bac-1 antigen but failed to acquire the IL-2 receptor. These results demonstrate that the utilization of the BCGF pathway can be segregated from that of IL-2 in B cells from B-CLL patients.

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