Expansion of Fc receptor-bearing T lymphocytes in patients with immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin A myeloma

J Clin Invest. 1981 Jan;67(1):308-11. doi: 10.1172/JCI110028.

Abstract

Lymphocytes obtained from the blood of normal individuals and six patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma were separated into T and non-T cell populations by rosette-formation with sheep erythrocytes, and were then assayed for the presence of surface membrane Fc receptors. When compared with normal individuals, four patients with IgG myeloma had a three- to fourfold increase in T cells with IgG receptors (T gamma cells) and two patients with IgA myeloma had a two- to threefold increase in T cells with IgA receptors (T alpha cells). Patients with IgG or IgA myeloma had normal numbers of non-T lymphocytes with surface receptors for IgG and IgA, respectively. The finding that human myeloma is accompanied by elevated numbers of T cells with Fc receptors for the heavy chain class of the myeloma protein: (1) may account for the apparent "monoclonal" lymphocyte population in patients with myeloma; (b) extends to humans similar observations made in mice with secretory plasmacytomas; and (c) is of interest because T cells with Fc receptors are immunoregulatory lymphocytes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Count
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin A / immunology*
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology*
  • Multiple Myeloma / immunology*
  • Receptors, Fc / analysis*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin A
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Receptors, Fc