RECEPTORS FOR PEANUT AGGLUTININ (ARACHUS-HYPOGEA) IN CHILDHOOD ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC-LEUKEMIA - POSSIBLE CLINICAL-SIGNIFICANCE

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 55  (1) , 37-39
Abstract
The presence of lymphocyte receptors for peanut agglutinin in significant numbers (> 15%) was identified on [human] leukemic cells from T[thymus-derived]-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) (3/4), B[bone marrow-derived]-cell ALL (B-ALL) (2/4), null cell ALL (8/17) and on normal fetal thymic lymphocytes but not on normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Peanut agglutinin (PNA) binding was blocked specifically on leukemia lymphoblasts and thymic lymphocytes by the addition of galactose to the medium. When all immunologic subgroups of ALL were combined, apparently 8 of the 13 ALL patients having greater than 15% PNA-positive lymphoblasts had relapsed, whereas none of the 12 ALL patients with less than 15% PNA-positive cells presently have recurrent disease. Analysis of PNA receptors on ALL lymphoblasts may be a useful adjunct to the existing clinical and immunologic prognostic indicators.

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