The in vitro incorporation of acetate- 1 -C14 into normal and leukemic leukocyte lipids

Abstract

White blood cells and plasma from normal and leukemic subjects were incubated in the presence of acetate-1-C14. The distribution of radioactivity in six lipid fractions of cells and plasma was measured. Leukemic leukocytes incorporated the highest percentage of radioactivity into the phospholipid fractions whereas normal leukocytes incorporated the highest percentage into the glyceride fractions. There is no conclusive evidence that the differential white cell count had an influence on these observations. The difference may be related to a more active lipid metabolism in leukemic cells.