ENZYME HISTOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF NON‐HODGKIN'S LYMPHOMAS

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Abstract
Fourteen cases of non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma were investigated by both light and electron microscopic enzyme histochemical methods. These cases included 3 mycosis fungoides (MF), 1 chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), 1 hairy cell leukemia (HCL), 5 diffuse histiocytic (DH), 1 nodular histiocytic (NH) and 3 diffuse lymphocytic, poorly differentiated (DLPD) lymphomas. All of these cases except 2 MF and 1 DH were further characterized by an identification of surface markers. Enzymes studied were alkaline phosphatase (AlPase), acid phosphatase (AcPase), β‐glucuroddase (β‐Gase), adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase), 5'‐nucleotidase (YNase), α‐naphthyl acetate esterase (α‐N. acet eat), naphthol AS‐D chloroacetate esterase (N. AS‐D chlor eat), naphthol AS acetate esterase (N. AS acet eat) and α‐naphthyl butyrate esterase (α‐N. but eat). Strong ATPase activity was observed in 4 DH bearing B‐cell markers. Four lymphomas (lMF, 2DPLD and 1DH) having T‐cell markers never revealed such an ATPase activity. However, lymphomas with T‐cell character showed stronger eccentrically localized activity of β‐Gase and/or AcPase in the majority of neoplastic cells. One DLPD with B‐cell markers showed AlPase activity. Localized α‐N. acet eat activity was demonstrated in 2MF, 1DH and 1DLPD. No activity of S'Nase, N. AS‐D chlor eat, N. AS acet eat and α‐N. but eat was found in the neoplastic cells of all cases. It is suggested that ATPase, β‐Gase and AcPase are considered to be an easy method for differentiating either T‐ or B‐cell nature and useful in the classification of non‐Hodgkin's lymphomas.