Expression of immunoglobin G on blood lymphocytes in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

A sensitive rosette test utilizing antibody-coated red cells has been applied to the study of the immunoglobulins on the surface of blood lymphocytes in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). Contrary to other reports, IgG has been found to be a common surface membrane immunoglobulin (SmIg) on CLL cells. The reasons for this variation are discussed. Evidence is presented to show that (a) the anti-IgG-coated erythrocytes really are detecting IgG and not a cross-reacting substance, (b) the IgG is intrinsic to the cell and not cytophilically bound and (c) Fc-binding and other artefacts have been excluded. Expression of Ig by individual cells was studied by using mixtures of fluorescein- and rhodamine-labelled red cells coated with various anti-Ig. Fifty-one cases of untreated CLL were tested and the lymphocytes of thirty-eight of these cases bore Ig of a single light chain type. These cases could be classified on the basis of their lymphocyte SmIg as follows: eighteen expressing M and D and G, eleven expressing D and G but not M, six expressing M and D but not G, and three expressing G alone.