A unique surface marker profile in T-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia
ER Richie, MP Sullivan and J van Eys
A 5-yr-old girl with acute lymphocytic leukemia presented with moderate
hepatomegaly, marked splenomegaly, but no evidence of a mediastinal mass.
The peripheral blood white count was 270 x 10(9)/liter with 99% leukemic
cells. Surface marker analysis showed the lymphoblasts to be E- rosette
negative and complement receptor positive. The patient's leukemic cells
were unreactive with anti-p23,30, which detects Ia-like antigens, and
strongly reactive with A99 anti-T-cell serum, which reacts with normal
human thymocytes and peripheral blood T cells. The percentage of leukemic
cells bearing complement receptors diminished during relapse. The leukemic
cells obtained at diagnosis and during relapse were nonreactive to mitogens
and alloantigens and failed to stimulate proliferation of normal
lymphocytes in mixed lymphocyte culture. There was no evidence for active
suppression of normal lymphocyte reactivity mediated by the leukemic cells.
The surface marker and functional profile of these leukemic cells is
consistent with that of an early stage in T-cell maturation.
Volume 55,
Issue 4,
pp. 702-705,
04/01/1980
Copyright © 1980 by The American Society of Hematology
