Surface features of cells in human lymphoproliferative disorders. An immunoelectron microscopy study.

Peroxidase conjugated antibodies were applied to cell suspensions in order to detect surface associated immunoglobulins. Cell suspensions were fixed prior to incubation with reagents, a procedure avoiding membrane alterations induced by antibodies to surface component. By immunoelectron microscopy an identification of B lymphocytes could be made with simultaneous observation of their surface architecture. Basic findings were that normal circulating human B lymphocytes had a villous surface. This relationship was not confirmed however by examinating samples from various B and T cell proliferations establishing that surface morphology is not sufficient to categorize cells in disease. Specimens from hairy cell leukemia were also examined. Despite salient surface characteristics as revealed by the present method, the categorization of cells remains unclear.