Probing human malignant T cells with lectins: a comparison with their surface antigen patterns defined by monoclonal antibodies.
Tumor cells from 40 children and 13 adults with T cell malignancies were assessed for staining with fluorescinated peanut agglutinin (PNA) and soybean agglutinin (SBA). These cell populations had also been characterized for surface surface antigens using a series of monoclonal antibodies (Mo. Ab.) that permit an assignment of malignant cells to discrete stages of normal T cell differentiation. We had previously shown a clear correspondence between lectin- and Mo. Ab-defined cell compartments within thymuses from normal children and T cells in peripheral blood. We report here that the pattern of reactivity of malignant T cells populations with lectins correlates closely the degree of maturation, as assessed by Mo. Ab. Thus, utilization of lectins together with Mo. Ab., can be clinically useful to characterize T cell malignancies. This observation shows that, in spite of a high degree of heterogeneity of malignant T cell populations from one patient to the other, in their pattern of surface antigens, these populations seem essentially to conform to the scheme of normal T cell differentiation.
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007938:Leukemia / Q000276:immunology*; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000276:immunology; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000276:immunology*; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000276:immunology; D010641:Phenotype; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D037102:Lectins