A 72-kD B cell-associated surface glycoprotein expressed at high levels in hairy cell leukaemia and plasma cell neoplasms.

The present paper describes two new MoAbs, GHI/75 and VMP55, which were raised against a glycoprotein enriched lysate of hairy cell leukaemia. These antibodies recognized a new antigen of 72 kD (unreduced) and 83 kD (reduced) molecular weight. GHI/75 and VMP55 gave very strong staining of plasma cells, moderate labelling of circulating B cells but only weak staining of monocytes, some tissue macrophages and lymphoid cells. Neither antibody reacted with neutrophils or any non-haematopoietic cells. Both antibodies, however, strongly labelled the tumour cells in hairy cell leukaemia, multiple myeloma, plasmacytoma and lymphoplasmacytic lymphomas. No staining was seen of the neoplastic cells in Hodgkin's disease, myeloid leukaemia or T cell lymphomas. The two antibodies, GHI/75 and VMP55, may be of value in the differential diagnosis of hairy cell leukaemias and plasma cell neoplasms. In addition, the ease with which their antigen can be purified provides the possibility for a detailed study of this molecule.