Positive Identification of Human Leukaemic Cells with Scanning Immuno-Electron Microscopy, using Antibody Coated Polystyrene (Latex) Beads as Markers

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Abstract
Scanning immuno-electron microscopic labeling techniques were successfully used to identify a variety of leukemia-lymphoma cells. Anti-T, -B and -common type acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) antisera were covalently conjugated to polystyrene latex spheres by glutaraldehyde. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from healthy individuals and from patients with T-type ALL, B-type chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), acute and chronic non-lymphoblastic leukemias (ANLL) and cultured leukemia-lymphoma cells were incubated with the above antisera-latex conjugates. Positively labeled cells were easily identified by the presence of latex spheres on their surfaces. Cross reactivity of the antisera used and non-specific attachment of the markers were infrequently encountered. Different leukemic cells apparently have characteristic surface features. Scanning immuno-electron microscopy (SIEM) can readily be applied to the study of human leukemic cells.