Eosinophilia associated with proliferation of CD3 + 4 8 αβ + T cells with chromosome 16 anomalies

Abstract
We describe a patient with eosinophilia and an abnormal CD3+48αβ+ T‐cell population. Chromosomal analysis of sorted CD3+48 cells revealed abnormal karyotypes on chromosome 16. In the presence of IL‐2 the production of IL‐5 from CD3+48 cells was higher than that from CD3+4+/8+ cells. Eosinophil survival‐enhancing activity in the patient serum was inhibited by a combination of anti‐IL‐5 and anti‐GM‐CSF monoclonal antibodies. These data suggest that increased production of IL‐5 and GM‐CSF from the abnormal CD3+48 cells might cause eosinophilia.
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