CHARACTERIZATION OF LYMPHOBLAST FC RECEPTOR EXPRESSION IN ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKEMIA

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 54  (1) , 285-291
Abstract
Lymphoblasts from 18 patients with untreated acute lymphoblastic leukemia were investigated for the presence of conventional cell surface markers (spontaneous sheep red blood cell rosette formation, complement receptors and surface immunoglobulin [Ig]). The expression of Fc receptors for IgG and IgM was investigated using indicator bovine erythrocytes [BRBC] coated with rabbit anti-BRBC (IgG and IgM fractions). The leukemic cells of all patients in this study expressed Fc receptors for IgG and IgM. In contrast with previous reports, null (non-T [thymus-derived] non-B [bone marrow-derived] non-B)lymphoblasts and T lymphoblasts demonstrated Fc-IgG and Fc-IgM receptors. These 2 immunologic subclasses of leukemic cells demonstrated significantly different patterns of Fc receptor distribution. Expression of Fc receptors is apparently an early event in cellular differentiation in this lymphoid malignancy.