Abstract
Currently, no prognostic factors exist for determining the host immune status of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients. Therefore, the present report analyzed cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14)(+) human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR(low/-) myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) from 49 CLL patients and demonstrated that these cells were significantly expanded in all CLL patients when compared with monoclonal B cell lymphocytosis patients and healthy volunteers. Furthermore, upregulation of CD14(+)HLA-DR(low/-) MDSCs was correlated with CLL tumor progression and a poor prognosis for CLL patients, and CD14(+)HLA-DR(low/-) MDSCs were significantly correlated with the presence of CD4(+) T and CD5(+)CD19(+) cells in CLL patients, which could significantly inhibit the CD4(+) T-cell immune response, contributing to CLL cell progression in CLL patients.