Cytochemical reactions of normal and neoplastic lymphocytes.

Abstract

SUMMARY Rosetting and non-rosetting lymphocytes collected from normal individuals were stained for the presence of beta-glucuronidase, periodic-acid Schiff activity, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase, acid phosphatase, and alpha-naphthyl butyrate esterase. Lymphocytes which formed rosettes with sheep erythrocytes and non-rosette forming lymphocytes contained cytochemical reaction products for all five stains. Beta-glucuronidase (p < 002) and acid phosphatase (p < 001) were more frequently found in rosette forming lymphocytes. However, non-rosetting cells were more frequently periodic-acid Schiff positive (p < 0001). Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and alpha-naphthyl butyrate esterase were present equally in rosette and non-rosette forming lymphocytes. In addition, 33 non-Hodgkin's lymphomas were studied for cell surface markers and cytochemical reactions. In 17 of 19 B cell lymphomas, there was a paucity of lymphocytes containing beta-glucuronidase. However, in three of four T cell proliferations, there were numerous lymphoid cells positive for beta-glucuronidase. The periodic-acid Schiff and acid phosphatase reactions varied greatly within B, T, and null cell lymphomas and thus were of little diagnostic value in determining the cell of origin of these neoplastic lymphoid cells.

Cytochemical Study of Thymocytes and T Lymphocytes

“…Tamaoki & Essner (1969) in sections of lymphnodes, by Catovsky er al (1974,1975,1977,1978) in lymphoproliferative diseases, and by Stein & Muller-Hermelink (1977) in fetal thymuses, have produced variable results (Barr & Perry, 1976;Wehinger & Mobius, 1976;Davey et al, 1977;Pangalis et al, 1978;Seymour et al, 1978). These variations may be due to two factors: the technique used to test for the presence of the enzyme and the modality used in making the lymphocyte-rich preparations.…”