The effect of steroids on the synthesis of RNA by isolated T and B lymphocytes of normal donors and patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia

T- and B-lymphocyte populations were isolated from peripheral blood of 11 patients who had chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and four normal healthy donors. The isolated T and B cells were cultured in the absence and presence of cortisol, dexamethasone, β-estradiol, testosterone, and progesterone, and the effects of these steroids on the synthesis of RNA was investigated. T and B cells of the CLL group were significantly more inhibited in the synthesis of RNA than the respective cells of the normal control group. The individual responses of T and B cells to each of the steroids differed in both the CLL and control groups, as well as between the respective subpopulations of each of the groups. Analysis of the LDH isoenyzme patterns of T and B cells of each group suggested major differences in the distribution of their LDH isoenzymes.