Distribution of B, T, and O lymphocytes in blood and tissues of normal humans reflecting a kinetic model

Quantitation of complement C3b and C3d surface receptors on neoplastic IgM positive B lymphocytes

C3b and C3d complement receptors on the surface of mononuclear cells from blood, lymph nodes, and spleens were investigated in twenty-nine CLL patients and in eight patients with non-Hodgkin malignant lymphoma. Compared with a normal material, especially the lymphoid tissues but also the blood of the patients contained a high number of C3d receptor positive lymphocytes with a strong expression of C3d receptors per cell. The majority of the cells with high C3d receptor expression also had SmIgM. The number of C3b receptor positive cells was decreased in the patients but the C3b receptor expression per cell was normal.

Traffic of T and B lymphocytes in the normal spleen

The occurrence of C3b and C3d complement receptors and of Fc and E receptors in normal splenic tissue was studied in cryostat sections incubated with specific marker cells. Thereby the topographic distribution of T and B lymphocytes in the splenic tissue was mapped: Te lymphocytes are found especially in the periateriolar sheaths, B lymphocytes in eccentric zones around the arterioles. The cells in the splenic pulp carry especially Fc, but also C3b receptors, whereas C3d receptors appear to be specific of lymphocytes. The basic lymphocyte traffic behind the mapped distribution of the lymphocyte subpopulations in the spleen was elucidated by lymphocyte kinetic studies using autologous 51Cr-labelled reinfused lymphocytes. These studies were performed partly on normal persons and partly on splenectomized persons without immune defects. The results indicate the presence of an exchangeable pool of T as well as of B lymphocytes in the spleen, the T cell pool being larger and making up in normals about 30% of the total exchangeable T lymphocyte mass. The matrix for the T lymphocyte pool in the spleen is the periateriolar sheaths. The difference in structure between the lymph nodes and the lymphoid tissue of the spleen, including differences in the distribution of lymphocyte subpopulations, are explained by the special vascular arrangement in the spleen.

Semiquantitative determination of Cc and C3 receptors on human lymphocytes by isotope-labelled marker cells

The number of Fc and C3 receptors on normal B lymphocytes, isolated from blood, was assessed semiquantitatively by a new method in which the marker cells (pretreated sheep erythrocytes) for Fc and C3 receptors are labelled by 99Tc and 51Cr respectively. The mean number of bound marker cells per rosette was assessed simultaneously by measurements of radioactivity. Control studies showed that a measuring system using 1/4 agglutinating titre of antibody on the marker cells is particularly advantageous: (1) Fc and C3 receptors are not demonstrable on T lymphocytes; thus, B lymphocyte fractions with Fc and/or C3 receptors are well-defined. (2) The binding affinity of the marker cells for normal lymphocytes is so weak that the number of bound marker cells per rosette rarely reaches the maximum which was calculated and measured as about 30 marker cells per rosette; thus, the measuring system is sensitive to changes in the number of receptors. (3) By binding of marker cells to lymphocytes bearing Fc as well as C3 receptors it has been demonstrated that interference phenomena between the two marker cells are not operative. Studies of blood lymphocytes from normal human subjects showed B lymphocytes carrying either Fc and C3 receptors as well as a fraction of B lymphocytes having both Fc and C3 receptors. The latter maker up about 6% of the lymphocyte mass. Comparative assessment of the quantitative distribution of these receptors indicates a developmental sequence, B lymphocyte with Fc receptors evidently developing, via B lymphocytes with Fc as well as C3 receptors, into B lymphocytes having C3 receptors only.

Unique eosinophil granules in a case of T-cell lymphoma

A 41-year-old man developed intense itching without visible cutaneous changes, epigastric pressure pain, and a slight intolerance to alcohol. He was found to have persistent blood eosinophilia. The eosinophil granulocytes were of abnormal appearance in the light microscope: larger than normal, the nuclei were multilobulated (4-6 lobes), the cytoplasm contained atypical, large granules, ample glycogen, and up to 12 vacuoles. In the electron microscope too the eosinophil granules were entirely atypical, having an electron-dense matrix, often with a light central inclusion body which was inhomogeneous, having longitudinally oriented structures with a periodicity of about 10 nm. These findings are quite contrary to normal eosinophil granules. Enzymic studies of cytoplasmic enzymes from the granulocytes revealed a greatly reduced content of eosinophil cationic proteins, whereas 5 (7) other enzymes were present in a normal or slightly reduced quantity. The phagocytic capacity of the eosinophils against latex particles was normal. The patient developed generalized lymphomas, histologically very malignant, of the convoluted, acid phosphatase positive cell type (T-cell lymphoma). Sub-population studies of lymphocytes from a lymph node revealed 58% TE cells, while the remainder were B cells. At death, 3-1/2 years after the onset of symptoms, severe endomyocardial fibrosis was found. The thymus could not be identified. It is concluded that lymphomas should be described on the bais of clinical, histological, and histochemical criteria as well as studies of lymphocyte sub-populations and that the highly unusual eosinophil granulocytes still deserve particular attention. The endocardial fibrosis is assumed to have been due to substances liberated from the eosinophil cells.

A case of T-cell lymphoma with Sézary cells in the blood and bone marrow accompanied by peripheral T and B lymphocytosis

A case of T-cell lymphoma occurred in a man, aged 66, whose symptoms started as itching and the appearance of 1-2 cm indurated plaques with central pustules on the skin of the trunk and face. A few months later generalized lymphomas and splenomegaly were present. Investigations of the lymphocytic subpopulations in situ in fresh frozen sections of lymphomas and skin showed only T cells. Samples of blood and bone marrow disclosed lymphocytosis and Sézary cells. Both T and B lymphocytes were definitely increased in the blood. The value of tissue studies in analyzing lymphocytic subpopulations is emphasized as a differential diagnostic aid in classifying lymphomas. A relationship between the T-cell neoplasia and the T and B lymphocytosis to mycosis fungoides and the Sézary syndrome is discussed.