Chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells lack the 185,000-dalton macromolecular insoluble cold globulin present on normal B lymphocytes.

We have recently characterized two lymphocyte-associated membrane proteins which have been termed 225,000-dalton and 185,000-dalton macromolecular insoluble cold globulin (225-MICG and 185-MICG, respectively) to distinguish their major physicochemical properties. These proteins differ antigenically, structurally, and in their cellular distribution. T cells can be distinguished by the synthesis and presence in the plasma membrane of 225-MICG, Null cells by the appearance of 185-MICG, and B cells by the appearance of both 225- and 185-MICG. The characterization of these two proteins in the monoclonal B lymphocytes of chronic lymphocytic leukemia forms the basis of this report. Using immunofluorescent microscopy, we found only 225-MICG on the surface of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells in 15 patients, whereas control B cells from 20 individuals displayed both 225- and 185-MICG. When MICG proteins were isolated and compared by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, normal B cells showed two stained bands, corresponding to 225- and 185-MICG, whereas the CLL cells demonstrated only the 225-MICG band. Using labeled amino acid incorporation into cellular protein, normal B cells were shown to synthesize 225- and 185-MICG, whereas CLL cells synthesized only 225-MICG, as determined by immune or cold precipitation of labeled cell lysates. When labeled secretions from B cells and CLL cells were analyzed by immune precipitation, 225- and 185-MICG were secreted by B cells, whereas neither protein was secreted by CLL cells. When normal B cells and CLL cells were mixed, incubated, and lysed together, both 225- and 185-MICG were present, thus excluding proteolysis as a cause of the absence of 185-MICG in CLL. The lack of 185-MICG in CLL distinguishes leukemic cells from normal B lymphocytes. Furthermore, the absence of this normal cell surface protein in these leukemic cells suggests a role for 185-MICG in the malignant transformation of lymphocytes.