Some immunological and biochemical markers in chronic lymphatic leukemia patients

The leukemic cells in chronic lymphatic leukemia (CLL) patients have been studied prior to theory with a panel of immunological markers. Cells were assayed for the presence of receptors for sheep erythrocytes (E active and total rosettes), C3d component of complement (EAC rosettes), mouse erythrocytes (M rosettes), some of them also for surface membrane immunoglobulins (SmIg). In vitro 24 h cultures without mitogen (detection of spontaneous DNA synthesis) or 72 h cultures with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) were also performed. These conventional immunological markers and functional lymphocyte characteristics have been correlated with enzyme activities of adenosine deaminase (ADA) and purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP). Electrophoretic patterns of radiolabeled proteins under denaturing conditions (SDS-PAGE) have also been determined in some patients of this group. Phenotypic surface characterization of blood elements of all CLL patients studied revealed their B origin, with increased values of EAC rosette forming cells and especially increased values of M rosette forming cells. Significantly decreased values of both, ADA and PNP, were found in all the cases. Electrophoretic patterns of radiolabeled surface proteins from cells of CLL patients were essentially similar within the group with characteristically strongly radiolabeled glycoproteins gp44--HLA heavy chain and glycoproteins gp29, gp35--Ia-like or HLA-DR antigen.