Sustained treatment-free remission in chronic myeloid leukaemia is associated with an increased frequency of innate CD8(+) T-cells

Br J Haematol. 2019 Jul;186(1):54-59. doi: 10.1111/bjh.15858. Epub 2019 Mar 12.

Abstract

Immunological mechanisms of treatment-free remission (TFR) in chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) are poorly defined and, to date, no correlation between successful TFR and CD8(+) T-cell subsets has been found. We analysed a new identified human subset of CD8(+) T-cells, namely innate CD8(+) T-cells, in CML patients with TFR ≥ 2 years. We demonstrated a dramatic increase of functionally active innate CD8(+) T-cells in these patients as compared to control subjects and patients in remission under tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Moreover, we found a positive correlation between frequencies of innate CD8(+) T-cells and natural killer cells, possibly representing a new innate biomarker profile of successful TFR.

Keywords: NK cells; chronic myeloid leukaemia; innate CD8(+) T-cells; successful treatment discontinuation; tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / pathology*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Killer Cells, Natural
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / drug therapy
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / immunology*
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / pathology
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / therapy
  • Lymphocyte Count
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Remission, Spontaneous*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology

Substances

  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors