In situ identification and enumeration of T lymphocytes in cutaneous T-cell lymphomas by demonstration of granular activity of acid non-specific esterase.
Activity of acid non-specific esterase (ANAE) in infiltrating lymphocytes in nine patients with mycosis fungoides and four patients with parapsoriasis en plaques was examined in frozen tissue sections. Within the dermal infiltrate 81.7 +/- 6.1% of all lymphocytes contain this enzyme in mycosis fungoides, 74.7 +/- 3.3% in parapsoriasis en plaques. These results correlate well with the percentage of T lymphocytes determined by immunological techniques. Mycosis fungoides may be regarded as an ANAE-positive cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Because of its simplicity this technique may be of value in further investigations of mycosis fungoides.
D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000201:enzymology; D004950:Esterases / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D009182:Mycosis Fungoides / Q000276:immunology*; D010267:Parapsoriasis / Q000276:immunology*; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*
D004950:Esterases