Sheep Erythrocyte Rosette Formation by B Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Cells as a Consequence of Monoclonal Surface Immunoglobulin with “Forssman-like” Antibody Activity

Abstract

Peripheral blood and splenic lymphocytes from an elderly man with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (Rai stage 4) were shown to have monoclonal surface immunoglobulin (IgM+, IgD+, kappa+), Ia-like antigen and receptors for unsensitized sheep red blood cells. The sheep red blood cell receptor was not blocked by monoclonal antibodies that bind to the classic T lymphocyte rosette receptor (OKT-11 and Lyt-3) or by anti-human IgG or antilambda antibodies. However, the sheep red blood cell receptor was blocked by antihuman IgM and kappa antisera and by soluble guinea pig kidney antigen (Forssman antigen). It is concluded from these and other observations that our patient has a B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder expressing monoclonal surface immunoglobulin with anti-"Forssman-like" antibody activity.

The CH Series of Murine B Cell Lymphomas: Neoplastic Analogues of Ly‐1+ Normal B Cells

“…Other human B-CLLs form rosettes with SRBC via their cell-surface immunoglobulins. We have recently been able to demonstrate that a B-CLL which forms rosettes with untreated SRBC (Deegan et al 1983) also forms rosettes with BrMRBC and binds PC in synthetic liposomes (Mercolino, Deegan, Arnold and Haughton, in preparation). The similar chemical structures recognized by B cells of the Ly-1/Leu-1 lineage suggests that defective idiotypic regulation may be implicated in their over-representation in B cell neoplasia and their common association with autoimmune phenomena.…”

Abnormal distribution of CD8 subpopulation in B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia identified by flow cytometry

“…Using this technique no accurate information on T-cell subpopulations is obtained because of variation in affinity during E-rosette formation, limited purity or enriched T cell and selective loss of T-cell subpopulations by enrichment [21]. Further complications arise from E-rosette formation by immunoglobulin positive cells [22] and presence of E receptors in B-CLL cells [23]. To our knowledge only three studies have been reported in which direct assessment of T-cell subpopulations in B-CLL is per-formed [2,5,8].…”