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Evidence for origin of certain childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemias and lymphomas in thymus-derived lymphocytes
Lymphoblasts from children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or malignant lymphoblastic lymphoma were studied using surface markers characteristic of T and B lymphocytes. A B-cell marker, i.e. surface immunoglobulin, was absent in all cases studied. Fouteen of 22 children (64%) had lymphoblasts with one or both markers of T lymphocytes, i.e. receptors for sheep erythrocytes (E) and/or human T-lymphocyte antigen (HTLA) detectable using heterologous antithymocyte sera absorbed with B lymphocytes. In all instances, lymphoblasts which carried E receptors also carried HTLA. However, lymphoblasts in 6 cases carried HTLA but not E receptors. It is possible that ALL may often involve T lymphocytes which are early in differentiation (i.e. prior to development of E receptors) or, alternatively, that E receptors may be lost from T cells following malignant transformation. Thymus enlargement was found only in cases of ALL or lymphoma where T markers were present. Lymphoblasts carried the same markers when examined in various sites and at various times from the same patient.
Lymphoblasts from children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or malignant lymphoblastic lymphoma were studied using surface markers characteristic of T and B lymphocytes. A B-cell marker, i.e. surface immunoglobulin, was absent in all cases studied. Fouteen of 22 children (64%) had lymphoblasts with one or both markers of T lymphocytes, i.e. receptors for sheep erythrocytes (E) and/or human T-lymphocyte antigen (HTLA) detectable using heterologous antithymocyte sera absorbed with B lymphocytes. In all instances, lymphoblasts which carried E receptors also carried HTLA. However, lymphoblasts in 6 cases carried HTLA but not E receptors. It is possible that ALL may often involve T lymphocytes which are early in differentiation (i.e. prior to development of E receptors) or, alternatively, that E receptors may be lost from T cells following malignant transformation. Thymus enlargement was found only in cases of ALL or lymphoma where T markers were present. Lymphoblasts carried the same markers when examined in various sites and at various times from the same patient.