Elimination of SP cells is likely triggered by their increased expression of target antigens, such as receptor for hyaluronan-mediated motility (RHAMM), after stimulation of the malignant cells by hCD40L, as CD8(+) RHAMM-specific T cells could be detected in the peripheral blood of immunized patients and were associated with the decline in B-CLL SP cells.
Cells obtained from patients with B-CLL were infected with AAV/EGFP at a multiplicity of infection of 100 while being stimulated with CpG-ODNs and/or CD40L-expressing HeLa/SF cells.
Taken together, the results of our study show the potential of CD40L-enhanced metaphase cytogenetics to detect more and new chromosome aberrations in B-CLL.
The potential anti-apoptotic properties of CD40L and Bryostatin should be taken into consideration when employing these agents in clinical trials involving patients with B-CLL.
Abnormalities in CD40/CD40L interaction do not seem to play a role either in the pathogenesis of hypogammaglobulinemia or in lymphocyte accumulation in B-CLL.