Further studies on the membrane immunofluorescence reaction of Burkitt lymphoma cells

Light and electron microscopic investigations of nasopharyngeal carcinomas with regard to the viral etiology of these tumors

Five carcinomata of the nasopharynx (four lymphoepithelial carcinomata of the Regaud type and one squamous cell carcinoma) were examined light and electron microscopically. In addition to the familiar histological and cytological features of these tumors, and because of an increased antibody titer against Epstein-Barr virus in all five patients, all those cytoplasmic and nuclear inclusions were examined which could be interpreted as indicative of a virus contact. The following structures were found: 1. Particles and microtubules which correspond in diameter, shape, and location to Corona viruses. 2. Particles surrounded by a double membrane and resembling in form and diameter Oncorna viruses. 3. Tubulo-reticular, coil-shaped cytoplasmic inclusions interpreted as an unspecific reaction of the host cell to viral attack. 4. Spherical nuclear bodies, which are frequently observed in tumors and in viral infections. 5. Intranuclear particles which correspond in diameter, structure, and distribution to viruses of the herpes type such as have been described in cell cultures of Burkitt lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The fifth group particularly was discussed in detail with regard to differentiation between those particles and other structures which could simulate a virus structure. Together with the appearance of increased ribosomes and of particular chromatin distribution within the tumor cell nuclei, the particles we discussed have been interpreted as morphological indications of a virus etiology of the examined tumors.

Differences in the binding of fluorescent concanavalin A to the surface membrane of normal and transformed cells

The binding of fluorescein-conjugated Concanavalin A to the cell surface has been studied in normal and transformed cells in interphase and mitosis. Binding to the cell surface was in the form of an incomplete ring of fluorescence, and the binding was inhibited by alpha-methyl-D-mannopyranoside. All the cells were fluorescent when treated with 25-250 mug/ml of fluorescent Concanavalin A. With 10 mug, the cells were all fluorescent after 30 min of binding, but after 0.5-5 min with 10 mug or 30 min with 1 or 2.5 mug, transformed interphase cells showed a higher percentage of cells with surface fluorescence than did normal interphase cells. Trypsinized normal and transformed interphase cells showed the same fluorescence. Binding with 2.5 mug at 4 degrees instead of at 24 degrees , gave a higher percentage of fluorescent cells with trypsinized than with untrypsinized transformed cells. Mitotic normal cells were similar to transformed interphase cells, whereas mitotic transformed cells were intermediate between normal and transformed interphase cells. The results indicate that the use of low concentrations of fluorescent Concanavalin A can show differences in surface fluorescence between normal and transformed, interphase and mitotic, and trypsinized and untrypsinized cells. It is suggested that the observed differences in fluorescence can be explained by differences in affinity of the lectin binding sites and/or differences in the clustering of sites.