Insoluble PHA- A B-cell mitogen in man?

Blood lymphocytes of normal individuals and of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia were evaluated for their blastogenic response to insoluble PHA. In at least preferential stimulation of normal B-lymphocytes was observed, whereas leukemic lymphocytes were almost insensitive. This result supports the hypothesis of a functionally defective B-lymphocyte population in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.