Enumeration and identification of human leukemic lymphocytes by their natural binding of bacteria.

The recently described property of bacteria to bind to human lymphocytes was used to distinguish between normal and chronic leukemic lymphocyte (CLL) populations. Strains of the following bacteria were used in this study: Arizona hinshawii, Escherichia coli strains 1 and 2, Bacillus globigii, Brucella melitensis, Corynebacterium diphtheriae strains 1 and 2, Corynebacterium xerosis, Sarcina lutea, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis. For identification of immunoglobulin-bearing lymphocytes, a strain of E. coli that did not bind to human lymphocytes was coated with anti-human light-chain antibody. Labeling of lymphocytes with bacteria was promoted by centrifugation. In the eight CLL patients studied, in which greater than 90% of the lymphocytes were leukemic cells, 52 to 77% were labeled by anti-human light-chain antibody-E. coli, 80 to 93% were labeled by Br. melitensis, and 78 to 95% were labeled by E. coli 1 compared to 11 to 24, 11 to 22, and 30 to 44%, respectively, in normal individuals, Thus, Br. melitensis, E. coli 1, and the anti-human light-chain antibody-E. coli may have diagnostic value for CLL. The percentage of the lymphocyte population that bound each of the other bacteria varied from patient to patient. Preliminary results obtained by studying the pattern of binding of E. coli 2, B. globigii, Sa. lutea, or S. aureus by leukemic lymphocytes suggest that categories of CLL patients may be distinguished by this method.