Acid phosphatase and acid esterase activity in neoplastic and non‐neoplastic lymphoid cells A semiquantitative evaluation related to immunological markers in 112 cases

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Acid phosphatase (AcP) and acid .alpha.-naphthylacetate esterase (ANAE) were examined in lymphoid cells from 104 patients suffering from various lymphoproliferative disorders and from 8 healthy controls. Enzyme activities were evaluated by means of a scoring system Scores of AcP and ANAE were higher in normal T cells than non-T cells. In comparison, the activated T cells in infectious mononucleosis showed increased AcP and decreased ANAE reaction. Malignant T lymphoblasts had a distinct granular AcP positivity in contrast to the faint reactivity observed in cALL [chronic acute lymphocytic leukemia] blasts, whereas ANAE showed negative or weak reaction in both subsets. High scores and distinct staining patterns for both enzymes were found in T CLL [T-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia] and T prolymphocytic leukemia, clearly different from the weak activities seen in B CLL [B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia], B PLL [B-cell prolymphocytic leukemia] and some B cell lymphomas. The latter, too, could be distinguished by mutual differences in enzyme reactions. High AcP and ANAE scores were also found in hairy cell leukemia, and the staining patterns together with the tartrate resistance firmly established the diagnosis. Thus, simultaneous determinations of AcP and ANAE can be of great value in the diagnosis of lymphoid malignancies.