Polymorphism of acid hydrolases in human epitheliod cells indicates cellular origin and defined differentiation stages.

The following work was planed to clarify whether enzyme variants were appropriate in disclosing cellular derivation and in indicating defined differentiation stages of stimulated cells. Light and electronmicroscopical studies have revealed a close relationship between monocytes, tissue macrophages, and epithelioid cells. In the present investigation direct evidence was provided for the monocytic origin of epithelioid cells. It could be shown that the monocyte specific isoelectric focusing patterns of acid phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.2) and nonspecific acid esterase (EC 3.1.1.6) were regularly shared by epithelioid cells, obtained from lymph nodes of patients with sarcoidosis. Concerning additional isoenzymes of epithelioid cells in comparison to blood monocytes and peritoneal macrophages, it is concluded that the analysis of enzyme polymorphism might be a reliable tool for tracing cell lineage and for defining functional stages during cell differentiation.