Abstract
Human lymphocyte subpopulations were studied histochemically for acid alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) and 5'-nucleotidase (5'-N).
The percentage of ANAE positive T lymphocyte of normal subject was 24.0±9.7% in cord blood, 41.4±9.8% in infancy, and 55.9±10.9% in adult, respectively.
The lymphocytes from patients with X-linked agammaglobulinemia had normal ANAE activity. In aplastic anemia, Down syndrome and Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, ANAE activity in their T lymphocytes was significantly reduced. And, the lymphoblasts isolated from patients with acute T-lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) had lacked ANAE activity.
The percentage of 5'-N positive B lymphocyte of normal subject was 13.8±7.3% in cord blood, 57.9±12.7% in adult, respectively. In chronic B-lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL), Burkitt lymphoma and aplastic anemia, B lymphocytes had markedly decreased 5'-N activity.
These enzyme defects may reflect a immature lymphocytes in at least some of the patients. The presence of these enzyme abnormalities seemed to play an important role in human lymphocyte differentiation and in a certain immuno-deficient condition. Also, these enzyme may be utilized as a cell marker for different stages of maturation. The significance of the lymphocyte enzyme abnormalities and their relation to the immune disorders are discussed.
