Lysosomal enzymes in normal and leukemic B lymphocytes.

Eleven lysosomal enzyme activities were tested in lymphocytes from normal individuals and patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The activities of all enzymes, except acid phosphatase, were significantly lower in the leukemic lymphocytes (p less than 0.001). In addition the activities were tested in purified T- and non-T lymphocytes and in monocytes. For most enzymes the activities are similar in the three cell types, except for alpha-D-galactosidase, arylsulphatase B and alpha-D-glucosidase, which are lower in T lymphocytes, and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase which is lower in non-T cells. In T and B lymphoblastic cell lines the activities are within the range for leukemic lymphocytes. No differences were found between the T and the B cell lines.