Comparison between surface components from human B and chronic lymphatic leukaemia lymphocytes isolated by lentil lectin.

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with chronic lymphatic leukaemia (CLL) were compared to normal purified B lymphocytes. Lymphocytes were cultured in the presence of 3H-fucose, and glycoproteins isolated by lentil lectin, were analysed by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Most of the major components detected in normal B lymphocytes were also present in CLL lymphocytes. Although B and CLL lymphocytes shared several components of similar molecular size, the latter appeared to be a heterogeneous cell population. The most important finding was the presence of a prominent component of approximately component of approximately 35,000 daltons in normal B and in 7 out of 8 cases of CLL. This component was not related to surface immunoglobulins but appeared to have a molecular weight very similar to the human Ia-like antigen. A labelled component of approximately 140,000 daltons was also present in large amounts in B lymphocytes and in 5 cases of CLL. Receptors specific for CLL lymphocytes were not found.