Eiji Tatsumi

Malignant histiocytosis with rearrangement of the heavy chain gene and evidence of monocyte—macrophage lineage

A unique case of malignant histiocytosis (MH) is reported. Its origin from the monocyte—macrophage system was indicated by expression of highly specific myeloid cell markers (My4, MCS2, and cytoplasmic lysozyme), diffuse activity of acid phosphatase and NaF‐sensitive α‐naphthyl acetate esterase, lack of immunologic markers specific for other cell lineages, and germ line configuration of the immunoglobulin light chain gene and the T‐cell receptor β‐chain gene. Its neoplastic nature was suggested by the single rearranged band of the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene.

Suppressive activity of some leukemic T cells from adult patients in Japan

Abstract When the stimulatory capacity of leukemic lymphocytes was investigated in mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) with peripheral blood lymphocytes from healthy individuals, some leukemic T cells from Japanese adult patients reduced background proliferation of normal lymphocytes. These leukemic T cells were effective in reducing normal lymphocyte response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or to lymphoblastoid cell lines with B-cell properties (B-LCL) in MLC, when added as attending cells, and the activity was mitomycin-C resistant. The culture supernatants also reduced normal lymphocyte response to B-LCL, but failed to suppress markedly the response to PHA.

A Novel B Cell Line Established from Ki-1-positive Diffuse Large Cell Lymphoma

A novel cell line, designated KIS‐1, was established from a patient with Ki‐1‐positive diffuse large cell lymphoma. Multiple phenotypic analysis of the KIS‐1 cells was carried out with a total of 22 monoclonal antibodies defining hematopoietic cell subsets and lineages. The KIS‐1 cells were positive for Ki‐1, B4, HLA‐DR, and 2D1 (common leucocyte) antigens, but were negative for the antigens reportedly specific for T cells, natural killer cells, granulocytes, monocytes, interdigitating reticulum cells and dendritic reticulum cells. The genomic analysis of the KIS‐1 cells showed not only the rearrangement of JH and Jk genes but also the probable rearrangement of Cγ genes. Moreover, the cells produced immunoglobulin γ chains. Thus, KIS‐1 was considered to be of B‐cell lineage. The lymphoma‐cell derivation of KIS‐1 was based on the following facts. The cytochemical, immunologic, cytogenetic properties and the results of the molecular genomic analysis in the KIS‐1 cells were essentially the same as those of the original tumor cells, and the KIS‐1 cells were negative for Epstein‐Barr virus‐associated nuclear antigen. KIS‐1 is the only known B‐cell line derived from Ki‐1‐positive diffuse large cell lymphoma, and should be useful for defining the biological implications of Ki‐1 antigen.

Phenotyping of malignant hematopoietic cells

Summary1255 cases of leukemia-lymphoma were tested between 1972 and 1984 by multiple marker analysis. Routine leukemia phenotyping was performed using standard morphological and cytochemical techniques in combination with clinical and histo-pathological information; the main emphasis was put on immunological surface marker analysis using erythrocyte rosette assays, TdT and a large panel of poly- and monoclonal antibody tests. The 1255 cases were divided into these major types and subtypes: 349 cases of ALL and related immature T- and Burkitt-lymphomas (cALL, pre B-ALL, B-ALL and Burkitt-lymphomas, T-ALL and immature, mostly leukemic T-lymphomas, Null-ALL), 454 cases of mature T- and B-cell malignancies (T-CLL, mycosis fungoides, Sezary-syndrome, T-lymphomas, B-CLL, hairy cell leukemia, multiple myeloma, B-lymphomas), 263 cases of acute myeloid leukemias (AML, AMMoL/AMoL), 182 cases of chronic myeloid leukemias (CML in chronic phase, CMoL, CML in blast crisis), 6 cases of erythroleukemia and 1 case of megakaryoblastic leukemia. A simplified classification scheme which has been used in our laboratories is presented. Phenotyping is of diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic relevance, most evidently for patients with ALL. Routine leukemia phenotyping should be performed with highly standardized techniques and reagents and by combining information from several fields in the multiple marker analysis. New areas of leukemia research might become very useful for the routine procedure of phenotyping.

Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase activity in leukaemic T cells from Japanese adults.

Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) is one of the important markers for studying the derivations of the malignant haemopoietic cells (Sarin, 1977). Since the activity of this enzyme is normally confined to the possible T cell precursors in the bone marrow and thymus cells, the more mature T cells in a post-thymic stage lack this activity (Kung et al, 1975; Barr et al , 1976). The cells of T cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in infants, children or adolescents always exhibit TdT activity and are supposed to represent T cells in the thymic stage (Brouet & Seligman, 1978). In contrast, T cell malignancies in adult or aged patients, not yet fully classified (Lutzner et al, 1975), have not yet been fully studied regarding TdT activity. The cells of Skzary syndrome and mycosis fungoides have been reported to lack TdT activity (Donlon et a l , 1977; Kung et al , 1978). In Japan, variable types of T cell malignancies are found among adults, and such have been summarized as ‘adult T cell leukaemia’ (Uchiyama et al , 1977). In most cases, bizarre, lobulated cells and skin lesions are present, and distinction from Stzary syndrome is often difficult. We have investigated TdT activity in the leukaemic T cells from three Japanese adults. Table I gives details of the patients, and Table I1 shows the results of surface marker study