title: Use of stimulating capacity of mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR-S) as a possible marker for the cell-origin of null-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
abstract: The recent introduction of surface marker analysis indicates that the T-cell ALL represents 15--25%, the B-cell ALL represents less than 5% and the null-cell ALL represents more than 70% of cases. The origin of leukaemic null-cells is at present not clear. The present study shows that fresh leukaemic cells from five patients with null-cell ALL exerted a strong stimulating effect while the leukaemic cells from three patients with null-cell ALL failed to stimulate in 'one-way' MLR. Cultured leukaemic cells from three null-cell lines (NALM-16, NALL-1 and MOLT-10) consistently exerted a strong stimulation while leukaemic cells from one null-cell line (REH) exerted little or no stimulation on allogeneic lymphocytes. Leukaemic null-cells from the NALM-,6 line exhibited a lesser but significant stimulation in 'one-way' MLR. These observations lead us to speculate that leukaemic null-cells which possess a stimulating capacity may represent less differentiated leukaemic B lymphoid cells (early B-cell precursors) and leukaemic null-cells which possess no stimulating capacity may represent less differentiated leukaemic T lymphoid cells (early T-cell precursor).
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / Q000276:immunology; D012397:Rosette Formation
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell