- This chapter presents a study analyzing various malignant tumor cells, particularly leukemias, for natural killer (NK) activity. In the study, a remarkable chronic lymphatic leukemia afflicting a 71-year-old patient was observed. The patient had a leukocytosis of 480,000 leukocytes/mm3, 99% of the cells being medium to large granular lymphoid-like cells with the histochemical characteristics of the large granular lymphocytes. Despite a distinct splenomegaly, the patient had no lymphnode enlargement. The isolated leukemic cells were cytotoxic against MOLT 4 cells, and they showed NK activity and antibody-dependent cytotoxicity against Mel-Wei tumor cells. The T-cell nature seemed to be undisputable because of E rosette formation, reactivity with heterologous rabbit antihuman thymic antigen, and positive staining with T3 and T8 monoclonal antibodies of the OKT series. The leukemic cells had no effect on B cell differentiation in coculture experiments in which B lymphocytes wereThis chapter presents a study analyzing various malignant tumor cells, particularly leukemias, for natural killer (NK) activity. In the study, a remarkable chronic lymphatic leukemia afflicting a 71-year-old patient was observed. The patient had a leukocytosis of 480,000 leukocytes/mm3, 99% of the cells being medium to large granular lymphoid-like cells with the histochemical characteristics of the large granular lymphocytes. Despite a distinct splenomegaly, the patient had no lymphnode enlargement. The isolated leukemic cells were cytotoxic against MOLT 4 cells, and they showed NK activity and antibody-dependent cytotoxicity against Mel-Wei tumor cells. The T-cell nature seemed to be undisputable because of E rosette formation, reactivity with heterologous rabbit antihuman thymic antigen, and positive staining with T3 and T8 monoclonal antibodies of the OKT series. The leukemic cells had no effect on B cell differentiation in coculture experiments in which B lymphocytes were stimulated by pokeweed mitogen to transform into Ig secreting cells.…
