Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia with natural killer activity. Clinical and cellular features of three cases.
Leukemic cells from 3 of 28 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) had natural killer (NK) activity against K562 and Molt-3, but not against Raji as determined by the 4-hour 51Cr release assay at a 40:1 effector:target ratio; the highest percent lysis against K562 in each patient ranged from 55.9% to 147.4% of the normal lymphocyte value and that against Molt-3 from 28.0% to 127.9%. Their leukemic cells were nonphagocytic, nonadherent, and negative for nonspecific esterase. Leukemic cells from two of them displayed similar morphologic and immunologic features. The cells had a round nucleus, and were E-receptors (E)+, Leu-5+, IgG-Fc+, Ia+, OKM1+ or OKM1-, T-cell antigens-, B markers-, and monocyte antigen-, indicating their NK cell origin. The other patient's cells were characterized by the irregularly shaped nucleus, and were E+, Leu-5+, IgG-Fc+, T+, OKT6+, Leu-2a+, and OKM1+. The presence of E which are identical to E of T-cells and a high density of T-cell antigens including OKT6 on the cells suggested their T-cell nature. Of the three patients, two without thymic enlargement had leukemic cells of NK cell origin, and the other one with the symptom leukemic cells of the T-cell lineage, the clinical feature probably reflecting the cell lineage of their leukemic cells.
D000293:Adolescent; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010587:Phagocytosis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens