Re: CD8 postive CLL

From: Maryalice Stetler-Stevenson (stetler@box-s.nih.gov)
Date: Wed Oct 18 2000 - 09:02:23 EST


I agree that occasional CLL's can be CD8+, as well as other T-cell
antigens. If you do enough cases you run into all kinds of weird
things and if you do tons you will get a series of CD8+ or CD2+ or
CD34+ or what ever. I think, though, when ever you encounter
something so unusual, you should first make sure that it is real. The
T-cells in unwashed blood from some normal individuals will
apparently stain positive for CD4 and CD8. I can send you some as my
blood does this. This is disturbing to say the least. However, it is
an artifact. This points out that artifact can occur, even when you
have great personnel with excellent technique. I always investigate
unusual findings before I accept them. Then, when you put together
your series and publish you (and everyone else) are sure it is real.
You may find that some cases are real and some are not. By thw way-
all my B-cells also appear to coexpress CD19 and CD5. When you  wash
the blood this goes away, along with an excellent case report of an
apparently normal (although some may question this) individual with
all T cells coexpressing CD4 and CD8 and all B cells coexpressing
CD19 and CD5 but polyclonal.

	Maryalice



>I think that the occasional positivity for CD8 in CLL is real - we have
>come across a couple more of these cases since the first one in 1987. It
>has been checked after washing and with various CD8 conjugates. These cases
>do not differ clinically from "regular" CLL.
>Kind regards
>Anna
>Anna Porwit
>Hematopathology Lab.
>Department of Pathology
>Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm
>Anja.Porwit@ks.se
>tel.:+46-851774518
>fax.:+46-851775843

Maryalice Stetler-Stevenson
Director Flow Cytometry Unit
Laboratory of Pathology, NCI, NIH



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