Functional interleukin-2 receptors are expressed on natural killer-like leukemic cells from a dog with cutaneous lymphoma.

Abstract

We identified a dog with large granular lymphocytic leukemia and cutaneous lymphoma that exhibited constitutive expression of interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptors by the leukemic peripheral blood lymphocytes. The leukemic cells phenotypically resembled natural killer (NK) cells, and their surface IL-2 receptors were functional, as determined by the capacity to bind human recombinant IL-2 with high-affinity resulting in the transduction of proliferation signals and in the development of lymphokine-activated killer cell activity. These cells produced IL-2 spontaneously, and they may have maintained their proliferative state through an IL-2-dependent autocrine growth pathway. Our results indicate that neoplastic lymphocytes of syndromes that involve circulating leukemic cells with dermotropism can originate from NK-like cells. Additionally, the data also suggest that proliferative conditions such as these may be the result of the aberrant production of IL-2. Further, this case illustrates the potential for the use of hematopoietic malignancies in the dog as a suitable animal model for immune targeting of IL-2 receptors as a novel treatment approach for similar malignancies of human beings.

• Authors: S C Helfand, J F Modiano, P F Moore, S A Soergel, P S MacWilliams, R D Dubielzig, J A Hank, E W Gelfand, P M Sondel
• Journal: Blood (Blood) Vol. 86 Issue 2 Pg. 636-45 (Jul 15 1995) ISSN: 0006-4971 [Print] United States
• PMID: 7605993 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Interleukin-2
• Neoplasm Proteins
• Receptors, Interleukin-2
• Recombinant Proteins

Topics

• Animals
• Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
• Dog Diseases (immunology)
• Dogs
• Female
• Humans
• Immunophenotyping
• Interleukin-2 (metabolism)
• Killer Cells, Natural (immunology, pathology)
• Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse (immunology, pathology, veterinary)
• Lymphoproliferative Disorders (immunology, pathology, veterinary)
• Neoplasm Proteins (analysis, metabolism)
• Neoplastic Stem Cells (chemistry, immunology, pathology)
• Receptors, Interleukin-2 (analysis, metabolism)
• Recombinant Proteins (metabolism)
• Skin Neoplasms (immunology, pathology, veterinary)