Lymphocyte Surface Immunoglobulins

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Abstract
The frequency and distribution of surface immunoglobulins, a B-cell marker, were studied on peripheral blood lymphocytes from normal controls and patients with infectious mononucleosis, chronic lymphatic leukemia, and lymphosarcoma. IgG, IgA, IgM, IgD, and IgE determinants were demonstrated on lymphocytes from normal donors. In infectious mononucleosis there was a transient increase of surface IgM early in the disease. When these patients were retested several months later, the percentage of lymphocytes with surface IgM had reverted to the normal range. Chronic lymphatic leukemia and lymphosarcoma could be divided into two groups: one with no detectable surface Ig on their lymphocytes; and another with increased numbers of lymphocytes with surface Ig. There was no correlation between surface and serum immunoglobulins. The absence of surface Ig in lymphosarcoma correlated with nonprogressive disease restricted to lymph nodes. These findings suggest that some forms of chronic lymphatic leukemia and lymphosarcoma may be B-cell diseases whereas other forms could be T-cell diseases.