The CD3 versus CD7 Plot in Multicolor Flow Cytometry Reflects Progression of Disease Stage in Patients Infected with HTLV-I

摘要

PurposeIn a recent study to purify adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma (ATL) cells from acute-type patients by flow cytometry, three subpopulations were observed in a CD3 versus CD7 plot (H: CD3^highCD7^high; D: CD3^dimCD7^dim; L: CD3^dimCD7^low). The majority of leukemia cells were enriched in the L subpopulation and the same clone was included in the D and L subpopulations, suggesting clonal evolution. In this study, we analyzed patients with indolent-type ATL and human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) asymptomatic carriers (ACs) to see whether the CD3 versus CD7 profile reflected progression in the properties of HTLV-I-infected cells.