Classification of normal and malignant lymphatic cells using acid phosphatase and acid esterase

The usefulness of cytochemical tests (APh and ANAE) to replace or to supplement membrane markers in subclassification of normal and malignant lymphatic cells was investigated.

normal lymphocytes subfractionated by rosetting and centrifugation, and in M. Hodgkin and CLL; lymphoblastoid cell lines; malignant lymphatic cells in different types of lymphatic leukemia. In normal human blood, T-lymphocytes are marked by a distinct "dot-like" ANAE-reactivity which is somewhat less pronounced in the small (11%) subgroup of Fc-IgG-receptor positive T-lymphocytes; B-lymphocytes are negative or finely granular positive. Lymphoblastoid cell lines of B- and of T-type are ANAE- and APh-positive. In some lymphatic malignancies, a characteristic pattern of activity of APh or of ANAE may support the diagnosis. The value of ANAE-cytochemistry is highly estimated for the quantitative determination of the percentage of normal T-lymphocytes lymphatic leukemias, immunological disorders, and during immunosuppressive therapy.