Modulation, shedding, and serum titers of the chronic lymphatic leukemia-associated antigen: characterization and clinical correlations

The fate of the common chronic lymphatic leukemia antigen (cCLLa), a leukemia-associated antigen selectively expressed by clonal cells in chronic lymphatic leukemia (CLL) was examined in 31 patients. cCLLa was detected by immune precipitation assay in extracts of metabolically labeled CLL culture cells, in CLL cell culture supernatants, and in patients' sera. In vitro shed membrane cCLLa was comparable in all patients (n = 15) on a per cCLLa-positive cell basis but was independent of cCLLa density (r = .46), absolute lymphocyte count ([ALC] r = .46) and stage (r = .44). In contrast, serum cCLLa (n = 31) correlated with absolute cCLLa-positive cell count (r = .92) and to a lesser extent with stage (r = .67), but was independent of cCLLa density (r = .47). cCLLa modulation was assessed from changes in membrane density estimated by radioreceptor assay before and after in vitro exposure to anti-cCLLa monoclonal antibody (MoAb) CLL2. Immune precipitation studies of metabolically labeled CLL cells showed that modulated cCLLa was internalized as judged by its detection within modulated cells but not in their supernatants. Intact cCLLa-CLL2 complexes were not detected within the modulated cells nor in their supernatants. Regeneration of modulated cCLLa was rapid with return to baseline density levels within 24 hours of antibody removal. Modulation was specific and depended on exposure time, medium temperature, and on antibody titer; correlated with extent of disease (versus absolute lymphocyte count, r = .79; versus stage, r = .66; n = 22); was independent of cCLLa density or affinity (r = .44 to r = .57; n = 11); and was unaffected by T cells or by monocytes (n = 14).