Serum Soluble CD30 Levels to Detect Activation and Aggression Status of Adult T-Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma Cells

Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) is one of aggressive mature T-cell malignancies. CD30 is a cell membrane protein expressed on activated T-cell. While a limited number of ATL cells show the CD30 expression, high levels of soluble CD30 (sCD30) are detected in serum of ATL patients. It is known that a disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM)10 and ADAM17 are ubiquitously expressed in peripheral leukocytes including T cells. They are sheddases of CD30 and IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) from cell surface as well as cleaving enzymes of E-cadherin and extracellular matrix. High levels of sIL-6R/IL-6 complex induce CRP production in the liver of ATL patients. Therefore the elevation of sCD30 and CRP levels indirectly indicated the activation status of ATL cells and the risk of invasion and tissue injury of important organs such as lung via metalloproteinases activation on ATL cells in vivo. Activated ATL cells may play a role for clinical aggression in ATL.