Differential Sensitivity of CD4+ and CD8+T Lymphocytes to the Killing Efficacy of Fas (Apo-1/CD95) Ligand+ Tumor Cells in B Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) is characterized by cellular and humoral immune defects resulting in increased rates of infection and disturbed immune surveillance against cancer cells as well as by the expansion of slowly proliferating tumor cells. We found increased Fas receptor (FasR) expression in peripheral blood CD4+and CD8+ cells of B-CLL patients compared with the equivalent cells of healthy donors. Although increased Fas receptor expression was significant in both T-lymphocytic subsets, only CD4+ cells from B-CLL patients underwent apoptosis after treatment with the agonistic Fas antibody CH11. In CD4+cells of B-CLL patients, the Fas-sensitivity also correlated with a CD4+/CD8+ ratio below the lower threshold of healthy individuals (