Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemic Cells with T (Thymus-Derived) Lymphocyte Markers

Abstract

Five of nine children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia had lymphoblasts that bound sheep erythrocytes or reacted with antiserum to thymocytes, suggesting involvement of T (thymus-derived) cells. When lymphoblasts from all patients were examined by immunofluorescence they were found to lack a marker for B (bone marrow or bursa-equivalent) cells, that is, the presence of surface immunoglobulins.