CD39 expression on T lymphocytes correlates with severity of disease in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Introduction: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a B-cell disorder, but it is also associated with abnormalities in T-lymphocyte function. In this study we examine changes in T-lymphocyte CD39 and CD73 expression in patients with CLL.

Methods: Blood samples were drawn from 34 patients with CLL and 31 controls.

CD39 activity correlates with stage and inhibits platelet reactivity in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Background: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is characterized by accumulation of mature appearing lymphocytes and is rarely complicated by thrombosis. One possible explanation for the paucity of thrombotic events in these patients may be the presence of the ecto-nucleotidase CD39/NTDPase-1 on the surface of the malignant cells in CLL. CD39 is the major promoter of platelet inhibition in vivo via its metabolism of ADP to AMP.