Increased number of functionally defective large granular lymphocytes in lymphoma patients

50 untreated patients with either Hodgkin's disease or non-Hodgkin lymphoma were studied for natural killer (NK) activity on the single cell level. The non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients had a significantly higher proportion of large granular lymphocytes-cells mediating the natural cell mediated cytotoxicity in humans-among peripheral blood lymphocytes. Yet, the single cell assay in agarose and the standard 51Cr assay revealed a significantly decreased capacity to bind and lyse the K562 target cells. The recycling capacity was also found to be lower in the lymphoma patients' NK cells compared to the healthy controls.