Receptors for complement and immunoglobulin on human leukemic cells and human lymphoblastoid cell lines

Abstract

A C T The bone marrow-derived (B) lymph- ocyte can be identified by the presence of easily detect- able surface immunoglobulin and a receptor for antigen- antibody-complement complexes (EAC'). Monocytes and macrophages also bear a receptor for EAC' and in addition possess a receptor for red cell-IgG complexes (EA). Thymus-derived (T) lymphocytes bear neither of these receptors. The cells of 15 patients with leukemia and 19 human lymphoblastoid cell lines were examined for the presence of the EAC' and EA re- ceptors. Of the human leukemias studied, only the cells from the patients with chronic lymphatic leukemia (CLL) possess the EAC' receptor. The EA receptor could not be demonstrated on CLL cells; hence, CLL cells bear the lymphocyte EAC' receptor and by this criteria represent B lymphocytes. 12/19 of the cell lines studied could be classified as B lymphocytes by the pres- ence of the EAC' receptor and absence of the EA receptor. 2/19 cell lines possessed both the EAC' and EA receptors and thus resemble the monocyte. 5/19 cell lines had no detectable receptor for EAC' or EA. The approach presented in this study for the classifica- tion of leukemias and cell lines as to their B lympho- cyte, T lymphocyte, or monocyte origin may have use- ful diagnostic and therapeutic implications.