Der Peroxydasenachweis an Ausstrichpräparaten sowie an Gewebsschnitten nach Entkalkung und Paraffineinbettung

Functional differences of T cells in B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia

B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) is a disease characterized by an accumulation of monoclonal lymphocytes of B cell origin. Although the neoplastic process involves the B lymphocyte compartment, phenotypic and functional defects within the T lymphocyte population implicate their possible role in the pathogenesis of the disease. We analyzed the functional and morphological integrity of T lymphocytes from the peripheral blood of 64 patients with B-CLL. The activation of B-CLL T cells after PHA stimulation was determined by measuring [3H]-thymidine incorporation, assessing cell numbers in parallel cultures, and by monitoring the lymphocyte subsets during 9 days of cultivation. Our results indicate the presence of three functionally different populations of T cells in the peripheral blood of B-CLL patients. We present evidence for an increased proliferative potential of T lymphocytes from a group of patients with B-CLL.

Antibodies to ADP-ATP carrier--an autoantigen in myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy--impair cardiac function

The adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-adenosine triphosphate (ATP) carrier of the inner mitochondrial membrane is identified as an autoantigen in myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy. Sera of patients with these diseases contain autoantibodies to the ADP-ATP carrier capable of inhibiting nucleotide transport in vitro. Recently, an antibody-related infringement of energy metabolism was shown in intact perfused hearts isolated from guinea pigs immunized with the ADP-ATP carrier. A decreased cytosolic-mitochondrial difference of the phosphorylation potential of ATP was measured that originated from a reduction in mitochondrial-cytosolic nucleotide transport. Nonimmunized animals did not show these changes in energy metabolism, despite being in a comparable metabolic state and performing equal external heart work. To establish whether antibodies to the ADP-ATP carrier can also alter cardiac function, hemodynamic parameters of isolated hearts of guinea pigs that were preimmunized with the carrier protein were measured. Cardiac metabolism was stimulated by exposing the hearts to a high calcium concentration in conjunction with a maximum elevation of the afterload. Mean aortic pressure, stroke volume, stroke work, and external heart work were found to be lowered significantly (p less than 0.005). The external heart work of the immunized hearts reached only about 20% of the level performed by control hearts. Myocardial oxygen consumption was lowered 2.5-fold, whereas the extent of lactate production was found to be more than doubled. These results show a diminished cardiac performance of hearts from animals immunized with the ADP-ATP carrier. Our findings demonstrate that autoimmunity to the ADP-ATP carrier may contribute to the pathophysiology of dilated cardiomyopathy as a subsequent stage of myocarditis by causing an autoantibody-mediated reduction in cardiac function on the basis of an imbalance between energy delivery and demand.

Monoclonal antibodies to complement components without the need of their prior purification. I. Antibodies to mouse C1q

Rat monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) reactive with mouse complement subcomponent C1q were raised applying a principle that requires minute amounts of serum and circumvents purification of serum-derived C1q. The principle involves a) using the high affinity of certain cell-bound antibody isotypes for intercalating C1q from serum of various species, b) selecting such antibodies as are syngeneic to the immunized animal species, thus avoiding the production of antibodies against the intercalating antibodies and c) screening for the anti-C1q MAb in microtiter plates coated with C1q-intercalating MAb isotypes that are heterogeneic to the immunized animal species. We could establish 3 MAbs of IgM subclass, whose reactivity to mouse C1q was shown by ELISA techniques. One of them (RmC13C9) crossreacted with human C1q and was shown by SDS-PAGE and subsequent immunoblotting to recognize the C-chain of mouse and human C1q. The other two MAbs are directed against SDS-sensitive epitopes on mouse C1q and were, therefore, further characterized by native agarose gel electrophoresis and immunohistochemical studies.

Distribution of injected anti-Thy-1 monoclonal antibodies in mouse lymphatic organs: evidence for penetration of the cortical blood-thymus barrier, and for intravascular antibody-binding onto lymphocytes

The localization of monoclonal anti-Thy-1 binding in mouse thymus, spleen, and lymph nodes was studied at early intervals after intravenous (i.v.), intraperitoneal (i.p.) and subcutaneous (s.c.) injection of a single dose of the monoclonal antibody (MAb). Five minutes after i.v. injection, anti-Thy-1 was bound to cortical thymocytes surrounding capillaries in the thymic cortex, to thymic cells beneath the thymic capsule and to medullary thymocytes around venules of the thymus medulla. When anti-Thy-1 was injected i.p. or s.c. the MAb was first deposited in capillary walls in the thymus cortex and did not appear on thymocytes outside of capillaries until 60 min after injection. These findings suggest that thymic cortical capillaries are permeable for anti-Thy-1 MAb contrary to the generally accepted principle of a blood thymus barrier to antigens in thymic cortex. Some cortex capillaries also became permeable for peroxidase when injected 15 min after anti-Thy-1 MAb. Anti-Thy-1 MAb penetration into spleen white pulp and lymph node paracortex occurs along the circulatory pathway of the vascular system in the spleen and of lymphatics in lymph nodes. But those lymphocytes with a strong anti-Thy-1 MAb loading always appeared along the pathways of lymphocyte circulation indicating that the most intense contact between anti-Thy-1 MAb and T-lymphocytes occurs not in the lymphatic organs but during the intravascular period of recirculation of lymphocytes.

Antibodies to the ADP/ATP carrier, an autoantigen in myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy, penetrate into myocardial cells and disturb energy metabolism in vivo

We identified the ADP/ATP carrier, located within the inner mitochondrial membrane, to be an organ- and conformation-specific autoantigen in myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy. We also showed that autoantibodies to the ADP/ATP carrier inhibit the nucleotide transport in vitro. Specific binding of the autoantibodies to the carrier was demonstrated by radioimmunoassay and the immunoblot technique; the inhibition of the nucleotide transport was determined by the inhibitor stop method. To establish if these autoantibodies might also affect cardiac energy metabolism in vivo, we measured whether they are capable of penetrating into myocytes and whether subcellular ATP/ADP ratios and phosphorylation potentials of ATP change in hearts of guinea pigs that have been immunized with the isolated ADP/ATP carrier. An intracellular deposition of autoantibodies was observed by direct immunofluorescence and by immunoperoxidase staining on cryosections of the myocardial tissue of animals immunized with the ADP/ATP carrier. Furthermore, binding of autoantibodies to mitochondrial membrane structures was shown by immunoelectron-microscopic methods. The cytosolic and intramitochondrial distribution of adenine nucleotides in stimulated, isolated perfused hearts of guinea pigs immunized with the ADP/ATP carrier was measured by nonaqueous fractionation. Compared with controls performing equal external heart work, the cytosolic ATP decreased in the immunized animals, whereas the mitochondrial ATP increased strongly; ADP concentrations showed an opposite change. Thus, a resultant cytosolic decrease and a marked mitochondrial increase of the ATP/ADP ratio was established. As a consequence, the cytosolic-mitochondrial phosphorylation potential of ATP was diminished. These findings demonstrate that antibodies against intracellular antigens are able to penetrate into living cells, and that autoimmunity to the ADP/ATP carrier may contribute to the pathophysiology of myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy by causing an autoantibody-mediated imbalance between intracellular energy delivery and demand.

Immunophenotyping of acute non-lymphoblastic leukaemias

Using monoclonal antibodies specific for myelomonocytic cells, 40 non-lymphoblastic leukaemias were analysed applying immunostaining to cytospin preparations. Based on the reactivity patterns six groups of acute non-lymphoblastic leukaemias could be determined, mirroring the bimodal differentiation pathway of myelomonocytic cells. Comparative enzyme cytochemical analysis did not render a clear cut correlation and discrimination of the immunocytochemically defined groups. It is concluded that only the application of a broad panel of immunocytochemical and enzyme cytochemical methods allow a sound subdivision and diagnosis of acute non-lymphoblastic leukaemias.

Simultaneous demonstration of two antigens on single T cells using antibodies with contrasting labels

We describe a double labeling method for the discrimination of 2 antigens on single cells. It consists of a combination of 3H-immunoautoradiography and immunocytochemistry applied to cells previously fixed on poly-L-lysine (PLL)-coated multispot slides. The method has been applied to various mouse cells contemporaneously labeled with 2 different monoclonal antibodies. In order to distinguish the attached antibodies unambiguously, they were labeled with contrasting markers. One of the antibodies was marked with tritium blackening the photographic film that covers the slide. The other was detected with the peroxidase-anti-peroxidase (PAP) method forming a reddish precipitate. The contrast between the reddish reaction product of the PAP-labeled antibody and the black silver grains allows cells, specifically labeled with both antibodies, to be distinguished from cells labeled with only one or neither of the antibodies. Tritium-labeled antibodies were introduced because of their advantage over antibodies labeled with iodine in the closer localization of the silver grains to the bound antibody and their much longer halflife (60 days versus 12 years). In this study we applied a tritium-labeled anti-Thy-1.1 together with anti-Lyt-1 monoclonal antibody for studying the distribution of the corresponding antigens on lymphocytes in the mouse thymus and lymph node cells.

Improved detection of terminal transferase (TdT): the use of detergents on glutaraldehyde-fixed non-dehydrated cells prevents denaturation and diffusion artifacts

TdT as an intranuclear enzyme mainly of immature lymphoid cells is commonly determined immunologically using air-dried cell smears fixed with methanol. Both cell dehydration and alcohol fixation were found here to denature TdT and surface antigens. This could be prevented by using non-dehydrated cells bound electrostatically to poly-L-lysine-coated slides, fixed minimally with glutaraldehyde and rendered permeable to antibodies by the non-ionic detergent Brij 56. Crosslinking glutaraldehyde in addition prevented diffusion of TdT to extranuclear sites. By avoiding artifacts of denaturation and diffusion, a higher sensitivity in the detection of TdT was achieved despite considerably lower quantities of antibody.

[How long will preserved blood and bone marrow films give reliable cytochemical staining?]

We tested how long unstained and unfixed films of blood and aspirated bone marrow could be kept before special cytochemical staining. To exclude influences other than time on the outcome of the reactions, all the material was taken from hematologically normal persons. A simple score was used to evaluate the results. These may be summarized as follows: in most cells Naphthol-AS-acetate-esterase first shows a progressive decline in reactivity after a delay of 6 weeks, the reaction becoming very weak after 10 +/- 1 weeks. This does not hold for monocytes, megakaryocytes and platelets, which maintain reactivity (and susceptibility to NaF) for more than three months. With PAS staining, a slight decrease in reactivity after 8 +/- 2 weeks could be observed, whereas all other stainings tested (POX, Sudan black B and Naphthol-AS-D-esterase) were unaffected even by a delay of up to 16 weeks.

Megakaryoblastic micromegakaryocytic crisis in chronic myeloid leukemia

Atypical megakaryoblasts (MKB) or megakaryocytes (MK) are occasionally present in the peripheral blood during the terminal development of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). We report on a 49-year-old female suffering from Ph1 chromosome-positive CML with typical megakaryoblastic transformation in the peripheral blood and in the bone marrow. The small "blasts" were at the most only slightly larger and were occasionally even smaller than lymphocytes but showed megakaryoblastic or atypical megakaryocytic differentiation. The cytoplasmic cytochemical pattern of the atypical megakaryocytic cells was identical to that of large atypical thrombocytes. Platelet peroxidase was detected upon electron-microscopic (EM) examination. Immunologic characterization disclosed the presence of MK-specific antigens. When cultured in vitro on agar, the blasts transformed spontaneously into large mature MK, exhibiting characteristic cytochemical and immunological patterns. Cytogenetic examination of peripheral blood showed severe abnormalities. The patient did not respond to therapy and died 3 months after manifestation of the blast crisis.

Beta-glucuronidase-positive erythrocytic inclusion bodies--a hitherto unknown phenomenon

A combined cytochemical and electron microscopical study has delineated a new type of an erythrocytic inclusion body. Enzyme cytochemically these inclusions are characterized by beta-glucuronidase as a marker enzyme. In part, the inclusions may contain acid phosphatase and ferritin. The inclusions develop in mature erythrocytes since beta-glucuronidase normally does not occur in erythroblasts and, in general, this type of inclusion body is not found in erythroblasts. Based upon our preliminary findings, the hypothesis is extended that beta-glucuronidase is taken up via receptor-mediated endocytosis into erythrocytes and is finally put into clustered cytolysosomal vaculoes, that account for the inclusion bodies as seen at light microscopy. Exogenous beta-glucuronidase might be contributed for by breakdown of cells (e.g. hepatocytes) producing this enzyme in considerable amounts numbers. This view is corroborated by the observation that most patients with beta-glucuronidase-positive inclusions suffered from various chronic disorders of the liver.

Alternative myelomonocytic differentiation of HL-60 reflects dual prospective potency of promyelocytes in human

The permanent promyelocytic cell line HL-60 was subjected to stimulation with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and retinoic acid (RA), as well as 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and lymphokine conditioned media for the induction of granulocytic or monocytic differentiation, respectively. Cells were investigated cytochemically using alpha-naphthylacetate esterase (acid esterase; AcE), naphthol AS-D chloroacetate esterase, and peroxidase reactions. In addition, the granulocyte or monocyte specific isoenzyme patterns of AcE as an intracytoplasmic property and the immunoreactivity to monoclonal antibodies recognizing granulocytes and monocytes (Ki-M2, Ki-M5) or monocytes alone (Ki-M1) were considered. The results indicated that HL-60 cell line bear the potency to evolve into granulocytes as well as monocytes. Additional studies performed on normal human bone marrow stained for AcE led to the conclusion that the myeloid cell line remains bipolar until the maturation stage of promyelocytes. Myelocytes being AcE positive only in 11.5 +/- 5.0 are heterogeneous and display the first indications of separated monocytic or granulocytic differentiation.

The tissue architecture of synovial membranes in inflammatory and non-inflammatory joint diseases. II. The localization of mononuclear cells as detected by monoclonal antibodies directed against T-lymphocyte subsets and natural killer cells

Tissue specimens of synovial membranes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and non-inflammatory joint diseases were analyzed with a panel of monoclonal antibodies directed towards T-lymphocyte subsets and natural killer (NK) cells. In the RA group, mononuclear cell infiltrations in the synovium presented a distinguished pattern as compared to the non-RA group. Inflammatory synovial membranes displayed an increased level of cells recognized by the monoclonal antibodies OKT4 and OKT8, especially attributable to the broadened layer of synoviocytes and to the fibrous synovial tissue. No significant difference in the RA patients was observed with regard to the percentage of OKT4 and OKT8 positive cells in different investigated compartments of the synovium, e.g., diffuse inflamed synovial tissue, fibrous synovial tissue, and perivascular infiltrations. OKT4 and OKT8 positive staining was additionally observed on spindle-shaped cells present in the fibrous and diffuse inflamed synovium. OKT10 binding cells were located in the deeper layers of synoviocytes, in the inflamed synovial tissue, and in one case in perivascular areas, whereas HNK 1 positive cells were scattered in the fibrous synovial and perivascular cells, as well as in lymphocyte clusters of synovium in RA patients.

Acrosin in the spermiohistogenesis of mammals

Using the indirect immunofluorescence staining technique, the developmental pattern of acrosin during spermatogenesis of boar, ram, rabbit, mouse, rat, and Russian hamster (Phodopus sungorus) was studied. Specific antibodies against purified boar acrosin raised in rabbits cross-reacted with the acrosin of all species investigated thus suggesting that the antigenic determinants of the acrosin molecule cross-reacting with anti-boar acrosin antiserum have been highly conserved in mammalian evolution. During spermatogenesis acrosin was first demonstrable in haploid spermatids and increased in the course of the differentiation of the spermatids to spermatozoa. During the entire period of spermatid differentiation acrosin appeared in juxtaposition to the nucleus. In boar and ram the results obtained with the indirect immunofluorescence staining procedure were confirmed with the indirect immunoperoxidase staining method.

Monoclonal antibodies against T-cell antigens studied by immunohistochemistry

Fifteen monoclonal antibodies against different T-cell antigens were studied by immunohistochemistry in thymus, fetal thymus, fetal liver, palatine tonsils, and a few T-cell lymphomas. OKT 9 was identified as reacting with hemopoietic stem or precursor cells in fetal liver as well as with early B-determined lymphocytes in tonsillar germinal centres. OKT 10 labelled lymphocytes in thymus and surprisingly also the cytoplasm of some tonsillar cells with plasma-cell like appearance. OKT 6 and MAS 036 b reacted only with thymic cells. OKT 4, OKT 5, OKT 8,8-11, labelled thymic cells- and portions of interfollicular cells in tonsils. OKT 3, NEI 016, NEI 015, and T 28 stained a majority of thymic cells and of tonsillar interfollicular lymphocytes. IFH-M 203, NEI 012 and 4-11 were positive with the majority of T-lymphocytes in tonsils but labelled only a few thymic cells.

In vitro differentiation of rat peritoneal macrophages into mast cells: an enzymecytochemical study

Under special culture conditions, rat peritoneal mononuclear phagocytes have previously been shown to transform into typical mast cells, based on their histamine contents, the increase of their membrane IgE-receptors, and the development of metachromatic, electron-dense cytoplasmic granules. In the present investigation, the enzyme-cytochemical characteristics of these cells were examined prior to and during culture. The peritoneal macrophages were found to have strong paranuclear activity of nonspecific esterases and acid hydrolases, while they were negative for peroxidase and chloroacetate esterase. During culture, two main changes in enzyme activity were observed within all the cells: (1) Paranuclear activity was lost in favour of granular enzyme activity throughout the cytoplasm, and (2) chloroacetate esterase appeared in cultured cells and developed a strong granular activity. These findings are consistent with the macrophage nature of the seeded cells and their development into mast cells during culture. They give support to the theory that mast cells originate from the monocyte-macrophage lineage.

Immunohistochemical analysis of thyroglobulin and keratin in benign and malignant thyroid tumours

56 thyroid gland tumours and non neoplastic alterations were studied for keratin and thyroglobulin staining, using the indirect immunoperoxidase method on serial formalin fixed paraffin embedded sections. Papillary carcinomas showed a strong reaction with anti-keratin serum but a weak reaction with anti-thyroglobulin serum. Follicular adenomas and carcinomas showed virtually no reaction for keratin but a strong reaction for thyroglobulin. Undifferentiated and medullary carcinomas did not react with either antiserum, except for single cells in two undifferentiated carcinomas which reacted with anti-keratin serum. In nodular goiters, hyperplastic follicles showed little or no reaction with anti-keratin serum and strong reaction with anti-thyroglobulin serum. It is suggested that this virtually type-specific staining for keratin or thyroglobulin may be related to different degrees of cellular differentiation and organelle content in the tumour cells.

Acute monocytic leukemia complicating combined-modality therapy for localized childhood Ewing's sarcoma

Rapidly fatal acute monocytic leukemia occurred in an 11-year-old by 33 months after the beginning of irradiation and chemotherapy for non-metastatic pelvic Ewing's sarcoma. At autopsy, no recurrent primary disease was seen. An analysis of this case together with a review of the literature suggests therapy-related leukemogenesis. Thus, the decline in mortality rate for childhood cancer may be accompanied by an increased incidence of second neoplasms in cured children having the potential of a normal life span.

[Chronic lymphoproliferative disorder resembling hairy-cell leukemia (author's transl)]

Seven patients are presented with a chronic lymphoproliferative disorder characterized clinically by splenomegaly, no or discrete lymphnode enlargement, and a varying degree of cytopenia. In blood and bone-marrow smears lymphoid cells of "hairy" appearance are demonstrable which may contain tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase. The finding of a nodular bone-marrow infiltration without fibrosis as well as that of a nodular infiltration of the spleen originating in the white pulp are incompatible with the diagnosis hairy-cell leukemia and place the disease near to chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or leukemic immunocytoma respectively. A detailed cytologic and cytochemical examination of the infiltrating cells shows deviations from the typical enzymatic pattern of hairy cells and from known enzymatic constellations in CLL and related lymphoproliferative disorders. Thus, we are dealing with an intermediate form, difficult to classify, the separation of which nevertheless seems to be important for therapeutical reasons.

Diagnosis of hairy-cell leukaemia by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity in paraffin-embedded tissue sections

Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity may be demonstrated in paraffin-embedded liver and spleen specimens as well as in decalcified bone marrow biopsies after fixation in a mixed glutaraldehyde-formaldehyde-calcium acetate solution. This technique may routinely be applied to haematologically relevant material and aids in the differential diagnosis of hairy-cell leukaemia.

Anatomical distribution of T- and B-lymphocytes in Marek's disease — An immunohistochemical study

Neural lesions of Marek's disease, Marek's disease tumours in the ovary, liver, and kidney, as well as spleen and bursa of Fabricii of chickens bearing Marek's disease tumorous infiltrations, were examined by a new immunohistochemical technique basing upon Sternbergers unlabelled antibody enzyme method which allows the exact localization of lymphoid cells based on their surface antigens. Type C neural lesions contained T-lymphocytes almost exclusively. Type B neural lesions had relatively high proportions of T- and B-lymphocytes, and severe type A neural lesions possessed one part of heavily labelled T-lymphocytes and a number of cells stained weakly by rabbit-anti-chicken-T-cell-globulin. Tumorous infiltrations had similar characteristics as type A neural lesions. Spleen and interfollicular spaces of bursa of Fabricius were infiltrated by T-lymphocytes.

[Histochemical and electron microscopical studies of histiocytoma (author's transl)]

In histiocytomas the alkaline phosphatase technique reveals a surprising number of capillaries. The capillaries branch out from the center to the periphery of the histiocytoma and even the capillaries beneath the epidermis proliferate. The cellular elements outside the capillaries, however, are fibroblasts, histiocytes and mast cells, as is revealed by various histochemical and electron microscopical examinations. Histiocytomas of short duration differ from older histiocytomas in that the former contain fibroblasts similar to those found in healing wounds (C-fibroblasts).

Influence of the recipient thymus on the maturation of T-lymphocytes in H-2 different radiation chimeras

Graft-versus-host reactions in mice can be suppressed by incubation of the donor cells with T-cell-specific antibodies prior to transplanting them into lethally irradiated recipients. Since reconstitution of the immune functions in these recipients requires the formation of a new T-lymphocyte population, we investigated whether H-2 differences between recipient thymus and donor stem cells as well as an age dependent thymic involution impaired the maturation of immunocompetent T-lymphocytes. For this purpose the immune response of different chimeric mice against SRBC and third party skin grafts as well as the repopulation of the lymphatic organs with T-lymphocytes was evaluated. Chimeras of the type CBL leads to CBL/CBA and CBL/CBA leads to CBA were used for the experiments. In addition chimeras which had been thymectomized, transplanted with the thymus of one parent strain, lethally irradiated and transfused with bone marrow from other parent strain were analyzed. In all chimeric combinations, even in the case of complete H-2 difference between donor cells and recipient thymus, a normal or almost normal reconstitution of the immune response against SRBC and incompatible skin grafts were detected. Furthermore age-involuted thymi returned to normal morphologically and functionally after bone marrow transplantation. The repopulation of the lymphatic organs in the investigated chimeric mice was remarkably similar to normal controls. This indicates that hemopoietic stem cells and/or lymphopoietic progenitors may differentiate in a thymus in spite of H-2 differences to functional T-lymphocytes able to respond against SRBC and incompatible skin grafts.

Difficulties involved in diaminobenzidine histochemistry of endogenous peroxidase

Basically peroxidase (PO) histochemistry is used in different areas: haematologic physiopathology, estrogen-dependent genito-mammary physiopathology and immunoperoxidase histochemistry, both in electron microscopic cytochemistry and at the light microscopic level. In immunochemistry, endogenous peroxidatic activity is inhibited by means of various procedures. On the contrary, in haematology and in reproduction biology stainability of endogenous PO is mandatory; controls are achieved using different inhibitors. Literature data on the most appropriated technical conditions concerning fixation, processing and incubation, for PO staining are reviewed.

Influence of thymosin on E-rosette formation of lymphoid cells in leukemic and nonleukemic children

The influence of two thymosin and two spleen control preparations on the E-rosette formation of peripheral blood lymphocytes and leukemic cells from non-leukemic children with depressed T cell values and leukemic children was investigated. Both thymosin preparations but also one of the control preparations induced a significant increase in the mean percentage of E-rosette forming PBL in the non-leukemic children with depressed T cell values. Thymosin and spleen preparations, however, did not convert the non-erythrocyte binding blasts to erythrocyte binding cells in either common or pre-T-ALL.

Malignant histiocytosis: morphologic and cytochemical findings

The clinical, morphologic, and cytochemical findings of 7 patients with malignant histiocytosis are presented in this study. The diagnoses were confirmed by the use of electron microscopy and cytochemistry (acid phosphatase and naphthol-AS-acetate-esterase). Two different types of malignant histiocytes were identified by the differentiation and development of cell organells. The relation of malignant histiocytosis to monocytic leukemia and to normal histiocytes (and their precursors) is discussed. And finally, there are statements on the origin and peculiarities of malignant histiocytes.

Evidence for monoclonal proliferation in prolymphocytic leukemia of T-cell orgin. A cytogenetic and Quantitative immunoautoradiographic analysis

B- and T-cell markers were studied in a patient with prolymphocytic leukemia, a rare variant of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Thymus-derived features were identified on the membrane of the neoplastic lymphocytes using the following cellsurface markers: Heterologous T-cell antigen, sheep erythrocyte receptor, surface immunoglobulin, complement receptor, Fc receptor and mouse erythrocyte receptor. Cytogenetic studies of leukemic cells from unstimulated and mitogen-stimulated cultures revealed a consistent karyotype characterized by marker chromosomes and a decreased chromosome number, whereas chromosomal analysis of hair root cells yielded a normal karyotype. A uniform expression of T-cell antigens measured on single leukemic cells by quantitative microphotometric immunoautoradiography correlated with the cytogenetic findings which are compatible with a descent from one progenitor cell.

[Studies of lysozyme activity in serum, urine and blood smears from patients with haematological diseases]

Lysozyme activity was studied in blood smears, serum, and urine of patients suffering from leukaemia or other haematological diseases. Increased enzyme activity was found in myelocytic, myelomonocytic and monocytic leukaemia and equally in secondary granulocytosis and polycythaemia vera. Reduced rates were found in lymphocytie leukaemia, malignant lymphoma with bone marrow involvement, and myelophthisic conditions. A rise in urinary lysozyme occurred when the serum level exceeded 50 microgram/ml. Abundant activities were found in myelomonocytic and monocytic leukaemias. Using the bacteriolytic method in blood smears, no enzyme activity was demonstrated in cells of acute or chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, in monocytic leukaemia however, almost all cells show strong reaction. In acute myelocytic or myelomonocytic leukaemia, the portion of positive cells changes from case to case depending on the degree of cell differentiation and maturation. In chronic myelocytic leukaemia there was no difference as compared to enzyme activity of myelocytes in bone marrow of control cases. Thus the bacteriolytic demonstration of lysozyme in blood smears may additionally contribute to distinction of different types of blastic leukaemias, and serum lysozyme also may allow more reliable insight into granulocytic and monocytic myelopoiesis than morphologic studies of blood or bone marrow smears can do, e.g. in agranulocytosis and pancytopenia.

Characterization of EBV-genome negative "null" and "T" cell lines derived from children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and leukemic transformed non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Sixty-two explants from peripheral blood, bone marrow and cerebral fluid of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and leukemic transformed non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) were cultivated for at least 8 weeks. Although lymphatic cells persisted up to 16 weeks in tissue culture, no proliferation was observed in 54 cultures. From the remaining cultures, eight permanently growing cell lines were obtained. Five of these were EBNA (Epstein-Barr virus-specific nuclear antigen)-positive. Three, however, were ENBA-negative and lacked Epstein-Barr virus genomes. Two cell lines (KM-3 and SH-2) expressed neither B nor T cell characteristics. One line (JM) expressed T cell characteristics and complement receptors. The growing lymphatic cells represented leukemic cells, since the pattern of cytochemical staining and that of membrane receptors of lymphoblasts from the same donor prior to cultivation were identical. All leukemic cell lines were derived from patients in relapse. In contrast, no proliferation of leukemic cells occurred in explains from patients revealing the first manifestation of the disease. These results suggest enhanced growth potential of lymphoblasts resisting antileukemic therapy.

Quantitative immunoautoradiography at the cellular level. II. Absolute measurements using labeled standard cells as a source of reference

A quantitative autoradiographic method is presented for determining absolute amounts of 125I-labeled compounds on the surface of individual cells. Autoradiographic evaluation of single cell radioactivity is accomplished by comparing the silver grain densities over the specimen and a radioactive standard being exposed simultaneously. In order to obtain a reference source of comparable physical properties, surface-radioiodinated human erythrocytes are used, the radioactivity of which is determined in a crystal counter. A simple enzymatic method for preparing such standard erythrocytes of very uniform label density is described. Numerous experimental advantages derived from the use of the standard are discussed and demonstrated by examples employing various exposure times and different radioactive standards. Hereby, very similar results were obtained when the number of A-antigenic sites was quantified on single erythrocytes in different experiments. The quantification of membrane-bound IgM on single human lymphocytes is shown as another application of this scheme.

[Significance of PAS-positive myeloblastic leukemia]

We refer to 48 adult patients suffering from acute myeloblastic leukemia, whose leukemic cells showed a typical cytochemical pattern: i.e. weak staining for peroxydase and with sudanblack B and lacking or only weak staining for nonspecific esterase. In 8 patients the leukemic myeloblasts additionally showed distinct granular staining for polysaccharides using the PAS-reaction. The therapeutic response, the remission rate and the survival time of these 8 cases have been compared to those of 40 patients, whose leukemic myeloblasts differed exclusively in the absence of granular PAS-positive materials. Out of the latter PAS-negative cases 7 patients (18%) went into a complete remission (M1, P1), 5 patients achieved partial remission (M2, P1-2), the 50%-survival time was 4.9 months. Out of the 8 granular PAS-positive cases 4 patients (50%) went into complete (M1, P1), and 1 reached partial remission (M2, P1-2). The 50%-survival time of the cases now lasts 10.1 months and three patients are still alive and in persisting complete remission 19, 12.5 and 12 months after diagnosis. These results suggest a better prognosis and an improved therapeutic response in those myeloblastic leukemias which additionally contain cytoplasmic granular PAS-positive materials.

Cytologic and cytochemical behavior of primary malignant bone tumors

Cytologic and cytochemical examination of eighteen cases of round-cell sarcoma of bone allowed classification of these tumors into four cytologic groups. Additional cytochemical examinations based on the PAS and D-PAS reactions, and the demonstration of the activity of peroxidase, naphtol-ASD-Chloracetate esterase, alpha-naphthylacetate esterase, naphthol-AS-acetate esterase with and without sodium fluoride inhibition, acid and alkaline phosphatases yielded no evidence of uniform behavior among the individual groups or within any single group. The studies showed that a positive glycogen reaction cannot be used as a basic criterion for the classification of such tumors as Ewing's sarcoma and for regarding them as a uniform tumor group. It is possible that a pool of tumors is involved, including tumors of monocytic and probably of lymphocytic origin, reticulum-cell sarcoma, tumors of myelocytic and erythroplastic origin, stem-cell tumors, and endothelial-cell tumors. Histologic examination alone is not sufficient for the classification of round-cell sarcomas of bone, and it should be supplemented by cytologic and cytochemical or histochemical methods. Osteosarcomas (23 cases) and chondrosarcomas (8 cases) display cells which are characteristic for these tumors and which could be correlated with their benign counterparts, osteoblasts and chondroid cells. The histologically recognizable degree of malignancy of chondrosarcoma can be evaluated better with the cytologic than with the histologic technic. Indications of the possibilities of differential diagnosis based on the cytologic pictures of benign and malignant osteoplastic and chondroplastic tumors, giant-cell tumors and chordoma are discussed.

[Cytochemical polymorphism of acid phosphatase in hairy cell leukemia]

In four cases of hairy cell leukemia a cytochemical polymorphism concerning acid phosphatase (AP) is evident. Any AP is lacking in all hairy cells of one case; only tartrate inhibitable AP is occurring in two cases, in another case tartrate resistant AP is found in high activity. Thus, the lack of tartrate resistant AP seems not to be an argument against hairy cell leukemia.