1: Cytometry 1996 Jun 15;26(2):121-4

Natural killer cells and CD56+ T cells in the blood of multiple myeloma
patients: analysis by 4-colour flow cytometry.

King MA, Radicchi-Mastroianni MA

Department of Clinical Immunology, Royal North Shore Hospital, St. Leonards,
Australia.

The blood of multiple myeloma patients was examined for non-MHC-restricted
cytotoxic lymphocytes. Four colour flow cytometry was used to phenotype the
cells within a light scatter gate large enough to include all lymphocytes. NK
and T cells were identified using CD16, CD56, and CD3 antibodies, and myeloid
cells with CD13 and CD14 antibodies. Three subpopulations of NK cells and 3
subpopulations of CD16+ or CD56+ T cells were enumerated. The CD56+ NK and T
cells were also examined with CD69, CD25, and anti-HLA-DR antibodies to assess
their activation state. We found no evidence that either the percentage or the
absolute number of any subpopulation of the NK cells or CD56+ T cells correlated
with disease activity. Neither did we find any significant abnormalities in the
numbers of activated CD56+ NK or T cells. We conclude that it is unlikely that
circulating non-MHC-restricted cytotoxic lymphocytes are responsible for
maintaining disease stability in myeloma patients with indolent disease.

PMID: 8817087, UI: 96414027