Classification of normal and malignant lymphatic cells using acid phosphatase and acid esterase.

UNLABELLED: The usefulness of cytochemical tests (APh and ANAE) to replace or to supplement membrane markers in subclassification of normal and malignant lymphatic cells was investigated. MATERIAL: normal lymphocytes subfractionated by rosetting and centrifugation, and in M. Hodgkin and CLL; lymphoblastoid cell lines; malignant lymphatic cells in different types of lymphatic leukemia. In normal human blood, T-lymphocytes are marked by a distinct "dot-like" ANAE-reactivity which is somewhat less pronounced in the small (11%) subgroup of Fc-IgG-receptor positive T-lymphocytes; B-lymphocytes are negative or finely granular positive. Lymphoblastoid cell lines of B- and of T-type are ANAE- and APh-positive. In some lymphatic malignancies, a characteristic pattern of activity of APh or of ANAE may support the diagnosis. The value of ANAE-cytochemistry is highly estimated for the quantitative determination of the percentage of normal T-lymphocytes lymphatic leukemias, immunological disorders, and during immunosuppressive therapy.