Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Cells: Rosette Formation and Adherence to Nylon Fiber Columns2

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Abstract
Peripheral blood lymphocytes from 5 normal controls, from 20 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and from 2 with chronic lymphosarcoma cell leukemia were examined for their ability to form rosettes with sheep erythrocytes and for their adherence to nylon fiber columns. Of normal lymphocytes obtained directly from the Ficoll-Hypaque gradient, 41–57% formed rosettes, whereas 70–80% of cells fractionated by passage through nylon fiber columns were rosette-formers. Rosette formation by normal lymphocytes was completely inhibited by anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) and somewhat enhanced by the addition of AB serum. In contrast to the high rosette-forming ability of normal lymphocytes, only 0–12% (mean of 5%) of the chronic leukemia cells formed rosettes with sheep erythrocytes. Of normal lymphocytes, 34–42% obtained from the Ficoll-Hypaque gradient passed through nylon fiber columns, but only 2–18% (mean of 7%) of leukemic cells were filtered. Filtered normal lymphocytes were devoid of surface immunoglobulin by fluorescence microscopy, and 97–99% reacted with ATG. These data support the view that B cells are retained on nylon fibers while T cells are rosette-formers. Adherence to nylon fiber columns and inability to rosette with sheep erythrocytes are additional B cell characteristics of the CLL cell surface.

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