Abnormal monoclonal antibody-defined helper/suppressor T-cell subpopulations in multiple myeloma: relationship to treatment and clinical stage.

Among peripheral blood T cells from 25 patients with myeloma, % OKT8+ suppressor cells were increased in all but two patients (mean 63 +/- 12%; normal 34 +/- 8%), but were present in normal absolute numbers (mean 0.5 +/- 0.3 x 10(9)/l; normal range 0.2-0.6 x 10(9)/l). OKT4+ helper cells were reduced in relative and absolute numbers (mean 40 +/- 12%, 0.3 +/- 0.2 x 10(9)/l; normal 64 +/- 8%, 0.6-1.4 x 10(9)/l). Similar results were obtained in treated and untreated cases, and in patients of different clinical stage. In the 12 patients tested, gamma Fc-rosetting T cells were present in normal numbers (mean 28 +/- 10%; normal 34 +/- 10%). In four patients with IgM disease, similar, but less marked, changes in monoclonal antibody-defined T-cell subsets were observed. The findings are discussed in relation to those in other B-cell malignancies, and it is suggested that imbalances of OKT4+ helper/OKT8+ suppressor cells may be important in the immune suppression of many of these disorders.