Abstract

To evaluate the relationship between peripheral blood T-lymphocyte subsets, mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation and the outcome of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in childhood, the authors studied 15 cases of acute Iymphoblastic leukemia in childhood. The results were as follows: 1 I Percent peripheral lymphocyte and percent CDS+ cells showed no significant difference between total patient group and control group, while percent CD4+ cells was significantly decreased in total patient group compared to control group. But no significant difference was found between patient subgroups 2) Total counts of CD4+ cells and CD8+cells showed no significant difference between patient subgroups. 3) The ratio of CD4+cells and CDB+ cells showed no significant difference between patient subgroups, but more cases with the ratio less than 1.0 were found among total patient group compared to control group. 4) The stimulation indices of PHA and Con-A were significantly decreased in total patient group (p<0.05, p<0.005) compared to control group, but no significant difference was observed between patient subgroups. 5) The unstimulated 3[H]-thymidine uptake showed no significant relationship between patient subgroups. 6) The distribution of T-lymphocyte subsets showed no significant relationship with the stimula- tion index of PHA and Con-A. These results showed that the children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia have depressed cellular immune functions tested with T-lymphocvte subsets and mitagen-induced lymphocyte proliferation assay. But these results can not be regarded as one of prognostic factors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in childhood unless there are additional longterm data indicating the T-cell mediated immune functions are related to the outcome of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in childhood.

• Keywords: Cell-mediated immunity. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Childhood