The immunological profiles of T-cell large granular lymphocyte leukemia: results from a single center in China

Abstract To characterize the immunological profiles of T-cell large granular lymphocyte leukemia (T-LGLL) in China, we studied and correlated the proportion among T lymphocyte subsets, CD3 − CD16/CD56 + NK and CD19 + B cells in 39 T-LGLL patients. Our study identified increased percentage and absolute number of CD3 + CD8 + T cells, meanwhile decreased CD3 + CD4 + T cells and CD4/CD8 ratio in T-LGLL cases. Interestingly, there were significant correlations between CD3 + CD8 + T cells and T-cell large granular lymphocyte (T-LGL). The significantly decreased percentage and absolute number of normal CD3 − CD16/CD56 + NK and CD19 + B cells, which were significant correlations with CD3 + CD4 + T, CD3 + CD8 + T or CD4/CD8 ratios, were observed. Also we found that the percentage of CD3 + CD8 + T cells in αβ T-LGLL was significantly higher than that in γδ T-LGLL. Thus, changes of T lymphocyte subsets, normal NK and B cells, and the correlations among them in Chinese patients with T-LGLL were determined.