T-cell markers in the thymus during methylnitrosourea-induced leukemogenesis.

T-cell leukemias were induced in adult BDF1 mice by a single i.v. injection of 50 mg/kg of methylnitrosourea (MNU). During the latency period and in leukemic mice the expression of peanut agglutinin (PNA) receptors, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) and thymus leukemia antigen (TLm4) in the thymus was studied. First, TLm4-positive thymocytes were found 6 wk after MNU. Further, there was a continuous reduction of the percentage of PNA-positive thymocytes. The expression of TdT remained unaltered late in the latency period and in leukemic mice. Four phenotype patterns could be defined for the expression of TdT and PNA in thymocytes: PNA+ TdT+, PNA+ TdT-, PNA- TdT+ and PNA- TdT-. Thymuses negative for TdT were rare, the majority was PNA+ TdT+. However, thymuses late after MNU treatment and leukemic thymus were PNA- TdT+. The discrepancy in the expression of PNA and TdT as cellular markers in leukemic mice as compared to normal cell populations is discussed.