Emergence of activated lymphocytes in CD4 and CD8 subpopulations of multiple myeloma: correlation with the expansion of suppressor T-cells (CD8+ OKM1+) and ecto-5' nucleotidase deficiency

This study of CD4 and CD8 lymphocyte subpopulations in MM revealed increased proportions of cells expressing OKM1, Leu7, and HLA-DR antigens. In CD8 lymphocytes, there was a direct correlation between OKM1 and HLA-DR positivity. Two-colour analysis of purified CD8 subpopulations showed that HLA-DR was preferentially expressed by OKM1+ lymphocytes (suppressor cells), but a significant proportion of OKM1- lymphocytes (cytotoxic precursor cells) were also HLA-DR+. A significant proliferative activity found in CD2 lymphocytes was directly correlated with the proportion of HLA-DR+ cells in CD8 subpopulations only. CD8 lymphocytes displayed significantly lower 5'NT activity than those of normal subjects. This enzyme deficiency was correlated with the expansion of CD8 OKM1+ and HLA-DR+ cells; the increase in suppressor cells, as well as the emergence of activated cells, are associated with CD8 5'NT deficiency. In conclusion, the immunological pattern of CD4 and CD8 subpopulations in MM is significantly different from that in normal subjects. The implications of these data for the immune dysregulation occurring in MM are discussed.