The analysis of lymphoid subpopulations in normal and malignant tissues by immunofluorescence techniques

Tissue sections of frozen biopsy specimens obtained from normal and hyperplastic human lymphoid tissues as well as 40 cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas were analysed in immunofluorescence tests (using red TRITC and green FITC double-labeling). A panel of antisera including well-characterized conventional reagents to immunoglobulin classes, T-lymphoid and Ia-like antigens and monoclonal antibodies, including the OKT range made by Ortho Laboratories, was used. The findings show that the immunological methods can give a very accurate analysis of the normal and malignant lymphoid cells and can provide complementary information to conventional histology. Furthermore, the monoclonal antibodies to well defined lymphocyte subsets can provide data which suggests (although does not prove) functional relationships between different types of cells in normal and malignant lymph nodes. Thus, the technology described fills the gap between conventional histology and cellular immunology.