[Comparative study of the lymphocyte protein-synthesizing activity of donors and chronic lympholeukemia patients]

An assay of lymphocyte ribosomes in blood of donors and patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia established the normal level of ribosomes in 11 cases and half that value in 6 cases of leukemia. The decreased level of ribosomes in cells was largely, registered at the terminal stage of the disease. The 14C-leucine uptake by leukemic lymphocytes was reduced 2-3-fold while the relative level of 14C-leucyl-tRNA in diseased and normal cells was identical. The rate of lymphocyte protein synthesis was lowered in a wide range (2-8-fold), in most of patients (7 out of 8). The rate of protein synthesis (radioactivity of acid insoluble fraction per mg of ribosomes) was half the normal value and constant in leukemic lymphocytes. An important role of ribosome level in protein biosynthesis regulation in the course of disease progression is suggested.