Lymphocyte plasma membranes. VI. Surface antigens of lymphocytes in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Surface antigens from lymphocytes of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and from normal peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) were examined by radioimmunoassay; antisera to lymphocytes (ALS) were used to bind the labeled antigens. Cells from patients with CLL, normal PBL, thymus cells (THY), and cultured human lymphoblasts (CHL) were labeled by lactoperoxidase-catalyzed iodination. ALS (prepared against THY and CHL) were used to bind the labeled antigens solubilized in nonionic detergent. PBL resembled THY, but the CLL resembled CHL. Thus ALS(CHL) had greater potency for CLL antigens than for PBL antigens when compared to ALS(THY). Furthermore, the electrophoretic profiles of the immunoprecipitates from CLL cells revealed a peak of approximately 30,000-35,000 mol wt, which was not found for PBL or THY, but was associated with CHL.