Acid DNase activities in peripheral, mononuclear blood cells: a possible parameter to detect proliferating cell populations.

After electrophoresis in DNA-containing polyacrylamide gels, two acid DNase activities can be detected in peripheral, mononuclear cells of the human blood. One of these acid DNase activities correlates with cell proliferation; its isoelectrical point is at pI 7.4. By means of this DNase activity, a quantity of less than 1% leukemic cells can be detected. The increased acid DNase activity can indicate the proliferation of malignant cell populations and possibly the proliferation of cell populations during immunological reactions.