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Biomedical subjects

A Polliack

Publications and source records attributed to A Polliack.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Analysis of the peanut agglutinin-binding site as a differentiation marker of normal and malignant human lymphoid cells.

The lectin peanut agglutinin (PNA), which interacts specifically with D-galactosyl residues, was studied for its binding to human normal and malignant lymphoid cells at various stages of differentiation. As previously reported, PNA binds to thymocytes; however, it does not interact with the prothymocytes which precede the cortical thymocyte differentiation stage. No mature peripheral cells in any of the lymphoid organs bind PNA. In contrast to the normal T differentiation pathway, the expression of the PNA-binding site does not seem to coincide with that of T cell characteristics in the various malignant lymphoid cells studied. We therefore conclude that more information is needed about the nature of the PNA-binding site before it can be used as a differentiation marker in malignant lymphoid cells.

Binding Sites, Antibody↗

Human prothymocytes. Membrane properties, differentiation patterns, glucocorticoid sensitivity, and ultrastructural features.

Thymic precursor cells (prothymocytes) comprise a large proportion of the fetal thymic cell population, but are less frequently encountered in the postnatal thymus, where they compose < 1% of the entire population. In the present study we attempted to characterize a number of properties of the prothymocytes obtained from human fetal thymic tissues after depletion of the E-rosette thymocyes on a Ficoll-Hypaque gradient. The prothymocytes are larger than the thymocytes and show a different nuclear chromatin pattern. This subset of cells lacks the E-rosetting and natural-attachment capacities and, unlike thymocytes, does not bind the lectin peanut agglutinin. Human prothymocytes are highly sensitive to the in vitro cytolytic effect of hydrocortisone, whereas the thymocytes are resistant. Long-term in vitro culture of prothymocytes resulted in the expression of thymocyte characteristics together with a burst of mitotic activity. Results of this study indicate that the rate of the prothymocyte proliferation is regulated by the small thymocytes present in the same suspension.

Antigens, Surface↗

Burkitt's lymphoma presenting as acute leukemia (Burkitt's lymphoma cell leukemia): report of two cases in Israel.

Two rare cases of Burkitt's lymphoma presenting as acute leukemia are described. Both patients had typical features of Burkitt's lymphoma with rapidly growing, extranodal tumor masses which were multifocal. The blasts infiltrating the bone marrow and peripheral blood showed cytologic, cytochemical, immunologic, and ultrastructural features of Burkitt's tumor cells. The cells had B-cell markers but lacked the EBV-DNA genome and had multiple microvilli as seen by means of scanning electron microscopy. In both cases, the disease was resistant to chemotherapy and rapidly fatal, despite the fact that complete remissions of short duration was obtained.

Adolescent↗

Establishment in continuous culture of a T-lymphoid cell line (HD-Mar) from a patient with Hodgkin's lymphoma.

A new cell line, HD-Mar, was established from a pleural effusion of a patient with Hodgkin's lymphoma. Formation of E rosettes, sensitivity to anti-T serum, elevated terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase activity, presence of T-cell and the common ALL membrane antigens, morphology, and cytochemical staining indicate that the HD-Mar line is of thymic derivation. Absence of any immunoglobulin determinants, the lack of EBNA or any other EBV-associated antigen or function are also characteristics associated with established T-cell-derived lymphoma cell lines. Karyotype analysis indicated a tetraploid origin of the cell line.

Adult↗

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Association with vasopressin-responsive diabetes insipidus.

A rare case of acute lymphoblastic leukemia presenting with vasopressin-responsive diabetes insipidus (DI) is reported. The patient presented with polydypsia and polyuria of 9 L/day. Findings from special investigations of the CNS, including brain scan, computerized tomographic scan, EEG, and lumbar puncture were within normal limits. The patient's condition improved substantially after receiving vasopressin injections and later chlorpropamide. The incidence and underlying mechanism of this rare complication of acute leukemia are reviewed, and the response of DI to chlorpropamide is discussed briefly. In this patient it is presumed that the DI was caused by leukemic infiltration of the supraopticohypophyseal tract, posterior pituitary, or hypothalamus.

Adult↗

Lymphoblastic leukemic transformation (lymphoblastic crisis) in myelofibrosis and myeloid metaplasia.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) developing in myelofibrosis (MF) and myeloid metaplasia (MM) is reported in two patients. In both cases, the clinical course of the "blastic crisis" was rapidly progressive with little response to chemotherapy. The circulating cells were readily identified as lymphoblasts on the basis of cytology, cytochemistry, immunologic studies, and ultrastructure. In one of the cases, 40% of cells had T-cell markers and all cells contained paranuclear acid phosphatase. In the second case, cells had a "Burkitt-like appearance, contained multiple cytoplasmic vacuoles positive for oil red O, and one-third of them had B-cell markers. The development of lymphoblastic crisis in MF and MM occurs rarely, is analogous to blastic transformation in chronic granulocytic leukemia, and supports the hypothesis that myeloproliferative disorders originate from pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells.

Cell Transformation, Neoplastic↗

Scanning electron microscopy of mycoplasmas adhering to erythrocytes.

The interaction of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Mycoplasma gallisepticum with human erythrocytes (RBC) was studied by scanning electron microscopy. The tight nature of the attachment of the microorganisms to the RBC was indicated by the indentation of the RBC surface at the site of attachment of M. gallisepticum cells and by traction and resulting distortion in the shape of the RBC at the point of its attachment to M. pneumoniae filaments growing on glass or plastic. In many cases attachment took place via the tip of the filaments, the membrane of the parasite appearing to be fused with that of the RBC. The morphology of the mycoplasmas growing on cover slips conformed in general with previous descriptions obtained by scanning electron microscopy. Growth of M. pneumoniae on glass or plastic consisted of branching filaments spread on the inert surface and microcolonies made up of intertwining filaments projecting into the medium. The filaments had a bulbous swelling adjacent to a tapered tip end. A few filaments were shown to have a ropelike helical twist. M. gallisepticum grown on the cover slips of Leighton tubes had a peculiar fusiform or teardrop shape with blebs at one or both poles of the cells. Elongated filamentous forms and chains of coccobacillary bodies were observed as well.

Cell Adhesion↗

Bone marrow necrosis as the only manifestation of disseminated carcinomatosis.

An unusual case with thrombocytopenia and bone marrow necrosis as the only manifestation of disseminated carcinomatosis is reported. The diagnosis was first established by repeated bone marrow biopsy which revealed marked necrosis without evidence of malignancy. The patient's general condition deteriorated rapidly despite therapy with steroids. Autopsy revealed disseminated metastatic adenocarcinoma, but the primary site of the tumor was not identified. It is suggested that malignancy should always be excluded in patients who have bone marrow necrosis without an obvious cause.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Serum lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) levels in acute leukemia: marked elevations in lymphoblastic leukemia.

Serum total lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) levels were examined in 42 patients with acute leukemia, 9 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia, 6 of them in blastic crisis, and 53 patients with lymphoma and other lymphoproliferative disorders. The mean range of serum LDH leveles in Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was 402 +/- 210 IU/liter and 313 +/- 113 IU/liter, while that of patients with nonmalignant disorders was 308 +/- 74 IU/liter. In acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL), the range was 126-684 IU/liter (mean value 413 +/- 146 IU/liter). In 6 of the patients (11.3%) with lymphoma and in 6 cases (26.8%) with ANLL, the LDH levels were above 500 IU/liter. None of these patients had levels over 900 IU/liter. Patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) had a range of 402-3582 IU/liter (mean value of 1669 + 1038 IU/liter). In 15 of the 19 patients (78.9%) with ALL, serum LDH values were above 900 IU/liter. In addition, 3 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CLM) in blastic crisis had levels of 970-1940 IU/liter. One of these 3 patients had lymphoblastic crisis, while the second case responded clinically to vincristine and prednisone, but was not regarded as ALL. The differences in serum LDH levels between ALL and ANLL are statisticaly significant (p < 0.001). It appears that markedly elevated serum LDH levels in acute leukemia are suggestive of ALL, and that in individual patients, the LDH levels were correlated with the number of blasts during remission and relapse.

Acute Disease↗

Fatal Shigella dysentery complicated by toxic megacolon and bone marrow aplasia in a patient with chronic granulocytic leukemia in remission.

A patient with Philadelphia positive chronic granulocytic leukemia in clinical remission is described, who developed Shigella dysentery complicated by fatal toxic megacolon, pancytopenia and bone marrow aplasia. The difficulties of differential diagnosis between active ulcerative colitis and Shigella dysentery and problems relating to the management of these two disorders are discussed. Leukocyte function in chronic granulocytic leukemia and its role in infection in these patients is also briefly reviewed. The rare association of bone marrow aplasia and Shigellosis is stressed.

Anemia, Aplastic↗

Suppressive effect of ferritin on in vitro lymphocyte function.

This study describes the effect of ferritin on lymphocyte function in vitro. Peripheral blood lymphocytes isolated from normal donors were incubated with purified human splenic ferritin, and the mitogenic effect of phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (Con A), pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) were assessed by the uptake of 3H-thymidine (3H-TdR). Ferritin (0.25--5.0 micrograms/ml culture) caused a marked suppression of PHA nad Con A blastogenesis but had no suppressive effect on PWM-induced transformation. Maximal suppression was obtained at a ferritin concentration of 1 microgram/ml and this was not enhanced by increasing ferritin concentrations. Ferritin also reduced the Con A capping phenomenon in normal lymphocytes from 22% to 6%, suppressed the MLR reaction but had no effect on the ability of normal lymphocytes to form E, EA and EAC rosettes or on in vitro lymphocyte cytoxicity against the K-562 cell line. Visual proof of the suppressive effect of ferritin on mitogen induced blastogenesis was provided by scanning electron microscopy, and direct evidence for the ability of lymphocytes to bind ferritin was obtained from studies with radioiodine labelled ferritin. The above findings indicate that ferritin suppresses certain parameters of T-lymphocyte function in vitro. The relation of the present findings to recognized abnormalities of T-cell function encountered in certain neoplastic disorders associated with high serum ferritin levels is at present unknown.

Cytotoxicity, Immunologic↗

Acute promyelocytic leukemia in childhood. Report of a case with a review of the literature.

A rare case of acute promyelcytic leukemia (APL) is reported in a 7-year-old boy. The patient displayed the typical features of APL including impaction of the marrow with promyelocytes, marked elevation of the serum vitamin B12 and transcobalamin I levels and a hemorrhagic diathesis. The bleeding diathesis in the case was due to thrombocytopenia, and there was no evidence for disseminated intravascular coagulation.

Bone Marrow↗

Virus-cell interactions as seen by scanning electron microscopy.

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has been used during the past few years to determine surface alterations of cells infected with a variety of RNA and DNA viruses. Infection of different cultured cells by RNA and DNA viruses usually revealed dramatic shape changes with surface alterations. The most frequent changes seen were "rounding up" of cells and the development of surface microprojections such as ruffles and microvilli. In the light of available knowledge, suggestions are made in this review for future SEM studies in this field with more sensitive methodologies, which will enable even better characterization of virus-induced cell surface changes.

Animals↗

Scanning immunoelectron microscopy markers.

Ultrastructural analysis of the cell surface and of membrane components such as antigens or receptor sites by scanning immunoelectron microscopy (immuno-SEM) has been the subject of extensive investigation during the past few years. We review the various immunologic and cytochemical techniques applied to SEM, which have employed latex particles, viruses, bacteriophages, protein A, ferritin, gold granules, hemocyanin and peroxidase as markers, and the advantages and disadvantages of these techniques. From current data, it is clear that immuno-SEM has much to offer in determining the distribution of specific cell surface sites and in positive and unambiguous identification of cell types in heterogeneous cell populations.

Antigen-Antibody Reactions↗

Scanning electron microscopy and the surface morphology of human leukocytes: current status.

This illustrated review summarizes the current status of knowledge relating to the surface morphology of leukocytes as seen by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Problems of SEM interpretation and controversial issues are discussed. In addition, this report briefly reviews the factors that are known to influence the surface architecture of these cells and summarizes SEM findings in the leukemias.

B-Lymphocytes↗