Abstract
The ability of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) cells to present antigen was investigated in order to define the multiple cell lineages of human antigen-presenting cells and to determine the relationship between antigen-presenting capacity and the amount of HLA class II antigen on the B-CLL cell surface. Furthermore, the influence of a phorbol ester, TPA, on B-CLL cells was also studied. The results obtained were as follows:
1) The B-CLL cells demonstrated the ability to present antigen to antigen specific T cell lines.
2) The TPA treatment enhanced the HLA-DR antigen expression on B-CLL cells.
3) The antigen presentation by the B-CLL cells was augmented by the TPA treatment. This augmentation seemed to be related to the enhanced expression of HLA-DR antigen.
4) The antigen presentation of the B-CLL cells was restricted by HLA-DR antigen.
5) The B-lymphoblastoid cell line established from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of a B-CLL patient showed strong antigen-presentation ability comparable to that of the TPA-treated B-CLL cells.
