Alterations in enzyme expression on 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced differentiation of chronic...

Several enzyme activities were examined to establish a relationship between their expression and terminal differentiation of B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells to plasma cells by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Although adenosine deaminase activity did not change significantly, thymidine phosphorylase and purine nucleoside phosphorylase increased 2-3-fold on TPA-induced differentiation of CLL cells. In addition, cytochemical reactions for non-specific esterase and acid phosphatase changed from very weak to intense on differentiation of CLL cells to plasma cells. The above markers, particularly cytochemical, could be useful for the classification of B-cell malignancies and for studying B-cell differentiation.