Abstract
The membrane properties of lymphocytes in 19 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and allied disorders were studied by immunofluorescence, rosette formation with sheep erythrocytes and anti-T-cell antiserum.
The results were as follows:
1) Ninteen patients with CLL were classified into three categories according to B and T cell markers of lymphocytes: CLL of B-cell type: 12 cases, CLL of Non-B or T-cells: 4 cases, CLL of T-cells: 3 cases.
2) Most of B-cell type CLL were found to comprise a monoclonal population with one heavy chain and either kappa or lamda chain.
3) The predoninant surface immunoglobulin identified on lymphocytes was IgG of either kappa or lamda light chain type.
This finding formed a striking contrast to predominant surface immunoglobulin of IgM type of lymphocytes from CLL patients in published studies of Europe and America.
4) Several CLL patients were found to have a relatively high proportion of cells positive for Δ-chain, but Complement-receptor appeared to be missing or reduced from CLL lymphocytes.
5) In two patients with IgG-bearing lymphocytes, the serum contained a circulating IgG M-component.
6) Problem about oncogenicity of CLL lymphocytes was discussed.
7) In prolymphocytic leukemia, leukemic type of malignant lymphoma with T-cell nature and Sézary's syndrome, strong similarity were observed in hematological and clinical pictures as well as cell surface nature (T-cell property)
