A heterologous antiserum (antiserum 7420) against B-lymphocyte antigen(s) was raised in a rabbit by immunization with peripheral blood lymphocytes from a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). After absorptions with pooled normal human serum, IgA, IgD, and IgM M-components, the fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated F(ab')2 fragments were prepared and further absorbed with normal peripheral blood leucocytes. The F(ab')2 fragments, studied in direct immunofluorescence, reacted with both normal and CLL B lymphocytes but not with T lymphocytes. Comparative studies with an HLA-DR antiserum showed that the antigen(s) detected by 7420 antiserum did not redistribute together with HLA-DR antigens in cocapping experiments, nor did the HLA-DR antiserum block the reaction of 7420 F(ab')2 fragments with B lymphocytes. The 7420 F(ab')2 fragments prcipitated detergent-solubilized B-cell membrane material with a molecular weight of around 40,000 and 150,000 daltons. The conclusion drawn is that the 7420 and HLA-DR antigens are different. The 7420 antigen was also shown to be different from classical HLA antigens, beta 2-microglobulin, surface immunoglobulin, the Fc receptor, and HC protein.

Animals↗

PubMed1979

An IgM monoclonal protein with multiple serological specificities.

An IgM lambda M-component with a false Wasserman reaction and 'false' rheumatoid factor activity from a patient suffering from a well-differentiated lymphocytic lymphoma is presented. The monoclonal protein showed antibody activity against cardiolipin and cross-reacted with acryl particles, not with human IgG. Both these activities were found in the Fab fragment. The reduction of the 19S IgM to 7S IgM subunits was responsible for a strong decrease in activity. The importance of the IgM quaternary structure in determining antibody affinity is emphasized.

Acrylates↗

PubMed1978

Prednimustine (NSC-134087, Leo 1031) treatment of lymphocytic and lymphocytic-histiocytic lymphomas.

Nineteen patients with advanced lymphocytic or lymphocytic-histiocytic lymphomas were treated with Prednimustine (NSC-134087, Leo 1031). The median induction dose was 25 mg/m2 a day by mouth (range 11-42). Ten patients had previously received radiation or chemotherapy, or both. Four patients had a complete remission and eleven a partial remission. The median duration of remission was 12.5+ months for complete responders and 5 months for partial responders. Thirteen patients had a moderate myelosuppression. One patient had urticaria and pruritus and refused further treatment.

Bone Marrow↗

PubMed1978

Non-secretory or low-secretory myeloma with intracellular kappa chains. Report of six cases and review of the literature.

This report concerns six cases of multiple myeloma characterized by either no demonstrable monoclonal immunoglobulin in plasma or urine or by trace amounts (less than or equal to 0.1 g/l) of monoclonal kappa chains in the urine. In all cases there was an infiltration of the bone marrow by plasma cells containing kappa chains but no heavy chains. A retrospective analysis was made of 126 consecutive cases of Bence Jones myeloma. The number of kappa and lambda cases was approximately the same. All cases secreting less than or equal to 0.1 g light chains per 1 urine were of kappa type. This contrasts with a kappa/lambda ratio of 1.4-1.9 among reported series of M-components containing both heavy and light chains. A review of reported cases of non-secretory myeloma revealed a preserved capacity for Ig synthesis in the majority of cases and among these a preponderance of kappa chain producing clones. These observations might be explained by a higher tendency for kappa chain producing cells to mutate to low secretors or to cells producing abnormal light chains which are catabolized rapidly. The clinical data from our patients do not indicate a more pessimistic prognosis in non- or low-secretory myeloma, than in other cases of multiple myeloma.

Aged↗

PubMed1978

Distribution of immunoglobulin-containing cells in bone marrow and lymphoid tissues in patients with monoclonal gammapathy.

Cell suspensions of bone marrow and lymphoid tissue from 85 patients with monoclonal gammapathy were investigated by a direct immunofluorescence procedure for the detection of intracellular immunoglobulin alpha, mu, gamma, kappa and lambda chains. Serum Ig levels were determined and daily syntheric rates estimated. In all cases the majority of Ig-containing bone marrow cells contained the same Ig class as that of the M-component in serum or urine indicating a diffuse distriubtion of these clones in the bone marrow. This was observed not only in myeloma but also in benign monoclonal gammapathy (BMG) and lymphoma with an M-component. The M-component producing clone could be traced to extramedullary lymphoid tissue in myeloma but usually not in BMG. A positive correlation was found between the calculated synthetic rate of the M-component and the number of Ig-containing cells in the bone marrow and some indication was found that the synthetic rate per cell might be lower in IgM and IgG than in IgA monoclonal gammapathy. The depressed level of polyclonal Ig in myeloma and to some extent in BMG was parallelled by a diminished number of Ig-containing cells in the bone marrow.

Adult↗

PubMed1977

Expression of protein HC on the plasma membrane of different human cell types.

The surface expression of a recently described plasma glycoprotein called human complex-forming glycoprotein, hetergeneous in charge (protein HC) on a number of different human cell types was investigated. By means of direct and indirect immunofluorescence, protein HC was shown to be associated with the surface of virtually all cells of the investigated normal cell types including erythrocytes, peripheral blood B and T lymphocytes, and the human fibroblast lines HE 81, HE 31, and WI 38. When transformed and malignant cell populations were studied, it was found that some populations (e.g., the T cell line Molt-4) carried protein HC on the surfaces of very few cells, whereas other cell populations (e.g., chronic lymphocytic leukemia lymphocytes) carried the protein on most cells. Malignant cell populations with intermediary percentages of protein HC-positive cells were also found. Protein HC on the cell surface of normal peripheral blood lymphocytes could be redistributed by incubation of the cells with anti-protein HC-antiserum at 37 degrees C, and this reaction could be inhibited by sodium azide.

Animals↗

PubMed1976

Distribution of immunoglobulin-containing cells in human bone marrow and lymphoid tissues.

Cell suspensions of human bone marrow, spleen, lymph nodes and palatine tonsils have been investigated for the presence of intracellular immunoglobulins by a direct immunofluorescence technique, using monospecific antisera against human Ig heavy chains alpha, mu and gamma and light chains kappa and lambda. Serum Ig levels were determined and the number of positive cells was compared with the concentration and calculated synthetic rate of serum Ig in each individual. The 28 patients studied covered a wide range of diagnoses and included those with normal as well as pathologically decreased or increased serum Ig levels. There was a high correlation between the calculated synthetic rate of each Ig class and the percentage of cells positive for the same Ig class in the bone marrow but not in the spleen, lymph nodes or tonsils. The Ig-containing cells constituted a much larger proportion of the total lymphoid cell population in the bone marrow than in the peripheral lymphoid organs. The estimated total number of Ig-containing cells was also much larger in the bone marrow than in the other organs investigated. It is concluded that in man the bone marrow is the major site of serum Ig synthesis and that the average synthetic rate per cell is the same regardless which of the three major Ig classes is produced. The role played by different lymphoid organs in humoral immunity is discussed in the light of the present results and reported data regarding lymphocyte and plasma cell kinetics in mammals.

Bone Marrow↗

PubMed1976

Immunofluorescent demonstration of the presence of protein HC on the surface of human lymphocytes.

Indirect immunofluorescence was used to demonstrate the presence of protein HC on the surface of a large percentage of normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Protein HC is a recently described charge heterogeneous, complex-forming glycoprotein normally present in human plasma, urine and cerebrospinal fluid. The synthesis of protein HC by lymphocytes was indicated by the removal of the glycoprotein from the cell surfaces on trypsinization of the cells followed by the reappearance of the protein on continued cultivation of the cells.

Cell Membrane↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Nucleolar size in benign and malignant plasma cell proliferation;.

Nucleolar and nuclear size of bone marrow plasma cells has been studied in 26 cases of myeloma, 19 of benign essential monoclonal gammapathy (BEMG) and 9 without an M-component. Bone marrow smears were Feulgen-stained to visualize nucleoli and nuclei. Nucleolar area, nuclear area and the ratio nucleolar area/nuclear area were calculated. The myeloma group differed from the other two groups in having plasma cells with larger nucleoli, larger nuclei and an increased ratio nucleolar area/nuclear area. No difference was found between the BEMG group and the cases without an M-component. In some cases--in which the absence of osteolytic lesions at X-ray examination, a low plasma cell percentage in bone marrow smears or a low M-component concentration initially made the diagnosis of myeloma uncertain--the observation of enlarged nucleoli could help to establish the diagnosis. Three cases were observed in which the onset of myeloma was preceded by a long period of essentially unchanged M-component concentration. In these cases a sudden increase of M-component concentration was accompanied by an increase of mean nucleolar size of bone marrow plasma cells.

Bence Jones Protein↗