title: The heterogeneity of 5'-nucleotidase activity in lymphoblasts of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, demonstrated by an improved cytochemical method.
abstract: 5'-Nucleotidase activity was demonstrated in the cell membrane of normal and leukemic lymphocytic cells by an improved cytochemical method. In the normal blood lymphocytes an average percentage of 20.6 +/- 2.9 5-nucleotidase positive (5 N +) cells were found. Among the various cases investigated, in 12 "null"-acute lymphoblastic leukemias an increased percentage of 5 N + blast cells was observed (33.4 +/- 27.95%). The heterogeneity however of the individual percentage of 5 N + blasts of each case in this group, was remarkable (0-89%) and not readily explicable. We also found a considerable percentage of 5 N + circulating lymphoma cells in patients with leukemic nodular poorly differentiated lymphocytic lymphoma (18.5 +/- 9.9%). In contrast, a low percentage of 5 N + leukemic cells was observed in the B and T chronic lymphocytic leukemia, B and T prolymphocytic leukemia, hairy cell leukemia and T acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
mesh_terms: D015720:5'-Nucleotidase; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000201:enzymology; D006651:Histocytochemistry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000175:diagnosis; D007943:Leukemia, Hairy Cell / Q000201:enzymology; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D008215:Lymphocytes, Null / Q000201:enzymology; D008224:Lymphoma, Follicular / Q000201:enzymology; D009708:Nucleotidases / Q000097:blood*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D009708:Nucleotidases; D015720:5'-Nucleotidase