Lymphocyte surface immunoglobulin density and immunoglobulin secretion in
vitro in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
YH Chen and P Heller
Lymphocyte surface immunoglobulin (SIg) and immunoglobulin (Ig) secretion
were studied in 14 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and 12
healthy subjects. The determination of SIgM-bearing (SIgM+) cells by
immunofluorescent staining and the quantification of SIgM by
radioimmunoassay (RIA) permitted the calculation of the SIgM density. In 12
normal subjects the percentage of SIgM+ cells averaged 8% (range 4%-12%)
and the SIgM density 10.2 ng antigenic equivalent/10(6) SIgM+ cells (SD
4.3). In 12 patients with CLL the respective figures were 68% (range
35%-90%) and 0.68 ng (SD 0.57). Ig secretion from pokeweed
mitogen-stimulated CLL cells was markedly diminished as compared with
normal lymphocytes. In coculture experiments CLL cells had no suppressive
effect on Ig secretion of normal lymphocytes and normal lymphocytes did not
enhance Ig secretion leukemic lymphocytes. These results indicate that the
impaired secretory activity of CLL cells results from an intrinsic anomaly
of these cells.
Volume 52,
Issue 3,
pp. 601-608,
09/01/1978
Copyright © 1978 by The American Society of Hematology
