T AND B LYMPHOCYTE ANTIGEN-POSITIVE NULL CELL LEUKEMIAS

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 49  (3) , 371-378
Abstract
To clarify the nature of null cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) null lymphoblasts and other leukemic cells were tested for human T [thymus derived] and B [bone marrow derived] lymphocyte antigens detected by reciprocally absorbed rabbit anti-sera prepared against autologous [human] T and B lymphoblast cell lines HSB-2 and SB. Blasts from 4 of 4 patients with t cell leukemia and from 2 of 10 patients with null cell leukemia expressed T cell but not B cell antigens. Blasts from 8 of 10 patients with null cell leukemia, 1 patient with B cell leukemia and 3 of 3 patients with acute myelogenous leukemia expressed B cell but not T cell antigens. T lymphocyte antigen-positive null cell ALL appear to be a form of T cell ALL. B antigen-positive null cell leukemia could arise from either immature B cell precursors or from multipotential stem cells.

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