Cytochemical studies on T and B lymphocytes and lymphoblasts with special reference to acid phosphatase

Lymphoblasts from ten patients with ALL or stage IV malignant lymphoma were studied cytochemically and investigated for rosette-forming capacity with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) as a T cell surface marker. SRBC binding capacity and acid phosphatase or beta-glucuronidase were tested simultaneously in single lymphocytes isolated from normal blood donors. Our results suggest that the presence of acid phosphatase (and beta-glucuronidase) represents a functional state of lymphocytes or lymphoblasts qualitatively independent of T cell differentiation, but quantitatively more pronounced in T cells than in B lymphocytes or non-T lymphoblasts.