Analysis of T-cell subsets in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a correlation with the stage of disease.

T-cell subsets were determined by the Leu monoclonal antibodies in the peripheral blood and/or bone marrow of 52 patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) not on therapy at the time of study. The diagnosis of B-CLL required that the leukemic cells expressed surface receptors for "la-like" antigen, Fc fragment of IgG, mouse red blood cells (MRBC), C3-coated red cells (EAC), and low density of monoclonal surface immunoglobulin. The Leu-3a+/2a+ ratio was applied to define the balance between the helper/suppressor subsets in the residual T-lymphocytes. Most patients showed a decrease in the Leu-3a+/2a+ ratios at all stages of disease. The decrease in ratio was mainly related to a decrease in the Leu-3a+ T-cell subset. The more advanced stages of B-CLL were associated with lower Leu-3a+/2a+ ratio, higher total white cell and percent lymphocyte counts. There was no correlation between the proportion of EAC or MRBC rosetting cells and stages of B-CLL. This analysis further suggests that B-CLL is an immunosuppressed state that becomes more pronounced in the advanced stages and is characterized by a progressive decrease in the Leu-3a+ (helper) T-cell subset.