[The surface phenotype and enzymatic cytochemical markers of B cells during pokeweed mitogen activation]

Methods of monoclonal antibodies, cytochemistry and rosette formation have been used to study antigens, receptors and enzymatic activity of peripheral blood lymphocytes during pokeweed mitogen-stimulation. After 18-20 hours in mitogen-stimulated cultures there is a decrease in number of T-lymphocytes that express CD7, CD5, CD4, CD8 antigens and of E-receptors and cells with the local activities of acid phosphatase and acid non-specific esterase. The number of lymphocytes with E37-, FcM- and M-receptors and of cells with granular PAS-reaction increased. Blast cells were revealed after 40-48 hours. Approximately 50% blast cells forming E37-rosettes and expressing CD7, CD5, CD2 antigens were characterized by the local activities of the above enzymes. The blasts did not express FcG-, FcM-, C3- or M-receptors. Cells like those at the Hodgkin disease and the "hand mirror" type cells were established on days 3-4. The number of lymphocytes with plasmatization was seen to increase by day 7.