Abstract
Blasts obtained from the diagnostic bone marrow aspiration in 13 children with acute leukemia (excluding acute granulocytic leukemia) were examined for T and B cell membrane characteristics. Blasts accounted for 70-98% (median 92%) of the nucleated cells obtained. Cells were harvested using a sodium metrizoate/Ficoll gradient. Membrane characteristics were assessed by the overnight formation of spontaneous sheep erythrocyte rosettes at 4°C (T cells), and by the presence of membrane-bound immunoglobulin (Ig) and C'3 receptors (B cells).
Two children had blasts (41 and 79%) which reacted as T cells. Two other children had blasts (31 and 80%*) which resembled B cells. In the remaining 9 children, over 92% of the cells reacted as neither T nor B cells.
In 1 child (noted above*) following relapse, 82% of the nucleated cells were blasts; 96% of the cells had detectable surface Ig with 80% IgG positive, 5% IgA positive, and 11% IgM positive. C'3 receptors were detected on 31% of the cells by direct immunofluorescence and on 28% by immune rosette formation using complement and antibody-coated erythrocytes.
These data illustrate the heterogeneity of the leukemic cells in children with acute leukemia. A ninority of these children have blasts with a cell membrane differentiated enough to bear receptors similar to either T or B cells.
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Falletta, J., Mukhopadhyay, N., Starling, K. et al. LEUKEMIC BLASTS WITH MEMBRANE CHARACTERISTICS OF EITHER T OR B CELLS. Pediatr Res 8, 400 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00359
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00359