Reverse transcriptase in leukocytes of leukemic patients in remission.

A cytoplasmic particulate fraction from human leukemic cells has been shown to contain reverse transcriptase and its associated high-molecular weight RHA template. We attempted to detect the reverse-transcriptase-template complex in morphologically normal peripheral blood leukocytes from patients with acute leukemia in complete remission. Our assay system consisted of a velocity glycerol gradient and cesium sulfate equilibrium gradient analysis of the endogenous reverse transcriptase reaction product. Three of nine patients in remission had positive reactions determined by glycerol gradient analysis, and eight of 10 patients in remission had positive reactions by cesium sulfate gradient analysis. We were unable to detect the template complex in leukocytes of normal persons. Thus, normal-appearing leukocytes in the peripheral blood of some leukemia patients in remission seem to retain a number of biochemical characteristics, possibly viral related, associated with leukemic cells.