Lymphocyte surface markers in acute lymphoblastic leukemia of adults.
Leukemic cells from eight adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were examined for the T-lymphocyte (T-cell) marker of sheep erythrocyte (E) receptors and for B-lymphocyte (B-cell) markers of surface immunoglobulins (SIg), complement receptors and FC receptors. Six of these patients' leukemic cells were devoid of both T- and B-cell markers, and therefore were "null" cells. The leukemic lymphoblasts of a 79-year-old patient had all B-cell markers, including monoclonal IgG K and receptors for complement and Fc. In cells from another patient (21 years old), only complement receptors were found. A review of the literature revealed that, similar to childhood ALL, adult cases of ALL were mostly of "null" cell type. All of the T-cell type was found in approximately 20% of patients. ALL of the B-cell type occurred only rarely. The latter cell type appeared to occur mainly in the middle-aged and the elderly.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007141:Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D007141:Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell; D003165:Complement System Proteins