T-Lymphocyte Variant of Hairy-Cell Leukemia

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Abstract
Immunohematologic studies on cells from a patient with the clinicopathologic syndrome of hairy-cell leukemia showed that the neoplastic cells had receptors for sheep erythrocytes and therefore had human T [thymus-derived] lymphocyte characteristics. The leukemic cells did not have the membrane receptors or immunoglobulin [Ig] markers of B [bone marrow-derived] lymphocytes or monocytes nor did they synthesize Ig. A lymphoid cell line established in vitro from the cells had the same T lymphocyte characteristics. The lymphoid cell line is positive for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, forms rosettes with untreated sheep erythrocytes and reacts with an anti-T lymphocyte antiserum. The syndrome of hairy-cell leukemia may occasionally result from the neoplastic proliferation of T lymphocytes as well as from the more usual B lymphocyte form. This situation is analogous to that described previously in chronic lymphocytic leukemia and other lymphoproliferative disorders.