Expression of CD11a (LFA-1) on b-chronic lymphocytic leukemia and lymphoma cells: Correlation with cell surface immunoglobulin intensity and CD58 (LFA-3) expression

In the present study the expression of CD11a (LFA-1) was studied on B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells and B-non-Hodgkin's small lymphocytic lymphoma in leukemic phase (NHL). The expression of CD11a was correlated with that of surface immunoglobulin (Smig) and CD58 (LFA-3). Patients with CLL were found to have a significantly lower proportion of CD11a+ cells than NHL patients, and the intensity of the staining of Smig was lower in CLL when compared with NHL. The proportion of CD11a+ cells in CLL, but not in NHL, was inversely correlated with the total white blood cell count. In CLL patients the percentage of CD11a+ cells was significantly lower in Rai stages 2-4 compared with stages 0-1. There was a strong correlation between the proportion of CD11a+ and CD58+ cells in both CLL and NHL. In contrast, there was no correlation between the proportion of CD11a cells and Smig intensity in both of these diseases when studied separately. However, when the results in these two diseases were pooled, the proportion of CD11a cells correlated with Smig intensity. The present study indicates that Smig intensity and proportion of CD11a+ cells are important criteria for the differential diagnosis between CLL and NHL.