Enzymatic relationship between human T gamma + lymphocytes and thymocytes

Serum Lactate Dehydrogenase Isoenzyme Pattern in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas

Serum lactate dehydrogenase (S-LDH) and its isoenzyme pattern were assayed in 63 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) patients, 37 at diagnosis, 15 at relapse and 11 in complete remission (CR). S-LDH in NHL patients with active disease was higher than in normal subjects and CR patients (p<0.001). Among the isoenzymes, LDH-2 and LDH-5 showed no remarked differences; LDH-1 was reduced and LDH-3 and LDH-4 raised in comparison to the normal group (p<0.001). S-LDH levels and isoenzymes 1 and 4 were influenced by the stage, the histological subgroup and by the presence of general symptoms. In fact, cases in stage IV, with “high-grade malignancy” and with general symptoms, had higher S-LDH levels and more evident LDH-1 and LDH-4 changes than the other stages, the other histopathological subgroups and the cases classified as “A”. S-LDH was the same as in normal subjects in the “low-grade” and “intermediate-grade” malignancies as was LDH-1 in stage II and LDH-4 in stages II and III, in “low-grade” malignancy and in the A cases. In contrast, LDH-3 was always high, with no significant difference in relation to the variables considered.

Thus, in NHL, LDH-3 seems to be a reliable marker of the presence of the disease in any case, whereas S-LDH is more related to the spread of the lymphoma.

beta-D-N-acetylglucosaminidase, a new cytochemical marker of human lymphocyte subpopulations

beta-D-N-acetylglucosaminidase staining characteristics of rosetted or non-rosetted normal and malignant lymphoid cells were compared with those observed after nonspecific esterase and acid phosphatase staining. With the three cytochemical techniques a similar staining pattern was observed in T cells (E-rosettes), their subpopulations T mu and T gamma, B cells and the non-T, non-B cells, as well as in the T cell populations defined with the monoclonal antibodies OKT3,4 and 8. T mu cells mostly displayed a "dot-like" reaction, T gamma and the non-T, non-B cells a "fine to heavy granular" reaction, while most B cells were negative. OKT4 and OKT8 positive lymphocytes showed for the larger part a dot-like staining pattern, however, the frequency of cells with a granular pattern was distinctly higher in the OKT8, than in the OKT4 positive cells. E(+)mIg(-) and E(-)mIg(-) A.L.L. blasts stained either with a dot-like or granular pattern or failed to react when stained cytochemically for beta-D-N-acetylglucosaminidase, nonspecific esterase and acid phosphatase activity. Only in a few instances a discrepancy was observed between the types of staining for esterase and acid phosphatase on one hand and those for beta-D-N-acetylglucosaminidase on the other.

Isoenzyme studies in human leukemia-lymphoma cell lines--IV. Lactate dehydrogenase

Isoelectric focusing (IEF) in horizontal polyacrylamide gels has been used to separate lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) isoenzymes in 97 human permanent hematopoietic cell lines (85 leukemia-lymphoma cell lines and 12 'normal' B-lymphoblastoid cell lines). Maximally 8 LDH bands were seen; the electrophoretically detectable bands 4 and 5 could be separated by IEF into 2 and 3 isoenzymes, respectively. The LDH patterns have been found to vary both in number of isoenzymes and in relative intensity in different cell lines depending upon the stage at which arrest of differentiation occurred. These differences can be used to analyse and distinguish different cell lines. The method should provide a valuable supplement to the enzymatic phenotyping and complete characterization of fresh and cultured leukemias and for the monitoring of phenotypic changes occurring during induction of differentiation.

Beta-glucuronidase activity in human T and B lymphocytes and the Tmu and T gamma subpopulations

The beta-glucuronidase staining characteristics of isolated T cell populations and the Tmu and T gamma enriched fractions derived of them were studied. T gamma lymphocytes were obtained from purified T lymphocytes by ox-IgG rosette sedimentation. The rosette-forming cells in the pellet were referred to as T gamma lymphocytes, whereas the lymphocytes in the interface were referred to as T gamma depleted or Tmu lymphocytes. B cells were studied on rosetted mononuclear cells with either mouse erythrocytes or with Staphylococcus Aureus (Cowan I) bacteria, after a preceeding polyvalent anti-human Ig treatment of the cells. While B cells showed mostly no reactivity, Tmu and T gamma cells were respectively characterised by a "dot-like" and "granular" pattern of reactivity. These findings are in agreement with those observed by others after alpha-naphthyl-acetate esterase or acid phosphatase staining. Within the T lymphocyte fraction, the T non-mu, non-gamma lymphocytes seemed to have a granular pattern of reactivity. The same staining pattern was found in non-B, non-T lymphocytes.

Enzyme analysis of autologous rosette-forming cells

Autologous rosette-forming cells (ARFC) have been considered to be post-thymic precursor cells. Since thymocytes and peripheral T lymphocytes differ considerably in lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme pattern and in activity of the enzymes of the purine metabolism, we investigated the enzyme profile in the ARFC. The L-lactate: NAD+ oxi-reductase analysis showed an isoenzyme pattern that closely resembled the pattern found in peripheral T lymphocytes and was totally different from the thymocytes. The levels of adenosine deaminase and purine nucleoside phosphorylase were identical to those found in the peripheral T lymphocytes and different from thymocytes. In our hands, the ARFC-enriched suspension contained predominantly OKT4+ and T mu+ lymphocytes. We propose that ARFC are a heterogeneous population encompassing all known subsets and cannot be considered a separate homogeneous entity.

LDH isoenzyme distribution in human T gamma lymphocytes

The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) isoenzyme distribution was measured in T gamma+ lymphocytes from normal individuals. T gamma+ lymphocytes were obtained from purified T lymphocytes by ox-IgG rosette sedimentation. The B:A subunit ratio was clearly lower in the T gamma+ lymphocytes. Phenotyping of the T gamma+ lymphocytes showed a vast majority of OKT11+, OKM1+, OKT3- lymphocytes. In one experiment, T gamma+ lymphocytes were enriched by OKT3 depletion of T lymphocytes. The low B:A ratio was also found in these cells indicating that the LDH pattern is not the consequence of an in vitro activation by immune complexes. As the T gamma+ lymphocytes were considerably enriched in cells having the characteristics of NK cells according to their phenotyping, morphology and NK cell activity, we may assume that NK cells have a low B:A ratio.

A new, simple and rapid method for enumerating human T lymphocytes in full blood: the E. coli (ATCC 11303) rosette test

A new bacterial rosette technique for enumerating T lymphocytes is described. E. coli (strain B; ATCC 11303), fixed in formaldehyde after overnight growth in thioglycolate medium, are mixed with washed whole blood cells (100 microliters) and after incubation at 4 degrees C, slides are made, stained and counted. The nature of the lymphocytes forming E. coli rosettes was demonstrated by comparing their cytochemical staining characteristics with those of E rosetted lymphocytes, and by mixed E. coli and E, mouse E rosette and Fc receptor tests, and by mixed E. coli rosette tests and anti-Ig staining. E. coli and E rosette tests in controls and pediatric patients were also compared. The results show that T mu and T gamma cells rosette with E. coli.

Cell-marker studies in CLL with monoclonal OKT antisera and lactic dehydrogenase isoenzyme analysis

In 16 patients with B-type CLL, the T and B cell compartment was analysed using the monoclonal anti-T-cell antisera OKT1, 3, 4 and 8 and the lactic dehydrogenase enzyme marker. Pertinent findings were: the presence on the CLL cells in 15 out of 16 patients of the antigen determined by the OKT1 antiserum, and, in all patients, a lower total LDH content on a per cell basis combined with a higher percentage-activity in the LDH-3 band as compared to the normal B-cell. Furthermore, the T-cell compartment was also disturbed in these patients, as the ratio of OKT4+ to OKT8+ cells was significantly depressed accompanied by a significant decrease of the LDH-1 percentage-activity in favour of LDH-3 and 4. These findings argue for the B-cell being immature and confirm the recent evidence that the T-cell compartment is changed in B-CLL.

T lymphocyte subpopulations in blood following radiation therapy for breast cancer

T helper and T suppressor lymphocyte subpopulations were examined before and after postoperative adjuvant radiation therapy for breast cancer. Absolute numbers of all T cell subsets were reduced by 70-80%. The proportion of IgG-Fc receptor-bearing T cells (Tg cells) was significantly reduced and that of IgM-Fc receptor-bearing T cells (Tm cells) significantly increased at completion of local radiation therapy with 45 Gy (4500 rad). Proportions of T suppressor (Ts) and T helper (Th) cells determined by monoclonal antibodies were not changed by radiation therapy. The overlapping between Tg and Ts subpopulations was 20-30% as examined by double labelling.