Reduction in Proportion of Senescent CD8+ T Lymphocytes During Chemotherapy of Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Anticancer Res. 2016 Nov;36(11):6195-6199. doi: 10.21873/anticanres.11213.

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate quantitative changes in B, NK and T lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) undergoing chemotherapy.

Patients and methods: Children with ALL were treated according to NOPHO ALL 2008 protocol. Levels of B lymphocytes (CD19+), NK cells (CD3-CD56+) and subsets of T lymphocytes (CD3+CD4+, CD4+CD25+Foxp3+, CD3+CD8+, CD3+CD8+CD57+, CD3+CD8+CD57-) in peripheral blood were analyzed by flow cytometry prior and during treatment with cytotoxic drugs.

Results: Immunological analyses were performed in 25 children with ALL. Levels of B and NK lymphocytes decreased continuously during chemotherapy. In contrast, levels of most T lymphocyte subsets decreased only transiently and returned to pretreatment levels by days 78 to 85. The only T lymphocyte subset that did not return to the pretreatment level contained senescent CD3+CD8+CD57+ lymphocytes.

Conclusion: Immunomodulating action of chemotherapy in children with ALL results in reduction of proportion of senescent CD8+ T lymphocytes.

Keywords: Children; acute lymphoblastic leukemia; chemotherapy; lymphocyte subsets.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Antigens, CD / immunology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / drug therapy*
  • Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / immunology

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Antineoplastic Agents