Surface immunoglobulins and receptor sites for aggregated IgG on leukemic reticuloendotheliosis cells.

On blood lymph nodes and spleen cells of 4 patients with leukemic reticuloendotheliosis (LR) the binding of 125-J-labelled IgG aggregates as well as binding of 125J-labeled anti immunoglobulin sera was studied. Moreover the capacity to form spontaneous rosettes with sheep red blood cells to bind immune complement complexes as well as the proliferative response in the presence of PHA were investigated. On the surface of hairy cells a variety of immunoglobulins were demonstrable. IgG of both types was found to be the predominant surface bound immunoglobulin and evidence was obtained, that these antibodies were adsorbed from the serum via Fc-receptors. In all LR-cases the percentages of T-cell rosettes as well as the PHA responses were decreased when compared with the normal controls. The numbers of immune complement complex binding cells were in the range of the normal controls. Results are discussed with respect to the origin of hairy cells in LR.