The CD3 versus CD7 Plot in Multicolor Flow Cytometry Reflects Progression of Disease Stage in Patients Infected with HTLV-I
Figure 5
Summary of the study: the CD3 versus CD7 profile reflects progression of disease stage in patients infected with HTLV-I.
In the percentage of D (CD3dimCD7dim) versus L (CD3dimCD7low) plot, Group 1 includes the majority of AC cases. As disease stage progresses, the CD3 versus CD7 profile then changes. With downregulation of CD3 and CD7, the D and L subpopulations increase gradually (Group 2). During this step, clones in the D and L subpopulations increase in size. Further accumulation of genetic alterations will result in rapid expansion of ATL clones—i.e., evolution to acute-type ATL. In this step, the CD3 versus CD7 profile will progress from Group 2 to 3.