[Glycosidase activity in phenotypically different pathologic lymphoid cells, found at various stages of...

The activities of seven glycosidases (six lysosomal and one cytosolic) were determined in B- and T-lymphoid cells differing by immunological phenotypes and occurring at various differentiation stages. The cells were isolated from the circulating blood, bone marrow or spleens of patients with various forms of lymphoproliferative disorders. The glycosidase activities varied significantly depending on the phenotype. The highest activity of all glycosidases was observed in cells with a common lymphoid cell progenitor phenotype. In cells having the phenotype of mature T- and B-cells the glycosidase activities were comparatively low. The changes in all glycosidase activities depending on the phenotype and differentiation stage usually occurred in the same direction; however, the degree of elevation or decline of activities of individual glycosidases was different. The activities of N-acetyl-beta-D-hexosaminidase and alpha-D-mannosidase changed dramatically, whereas the changes in the activity of cytosolic neutral alpha-D-glucosidase were less apparent. These data suggest that lysosomal glycosidases play specific roles in lymphoid cell differentiation.