Histogenesis of splenic lesions in Hodgkin's disease

Histochemical markers were used to identify the various cellular and structural components of the human spleen, and to investigate the histogenesis of the splenic lesions of Hodgkin's disease. The early lesions appear in areas near the central artery (periarterial lymphatic sheath) in the white pulp. The white pulp becomes hypertrophic. The lesions enlarge, extend into the red pulp, and compress the sinuses and the cords of Billroth. The derivations of various "histiocytes" contained with the lesions are differentiated by using cytochemical stains for lysosomal enzymes and for granulocytes. The epithelioid cells in the granulomas are rich in those lysosomal enzymes typically seen in phagocytic histiocytes, suggesting that they are indeed true histiocytes. The malignant "histiocytes," including the mononuclear Hodgkin cells, the binucleated Sternberg-Reed cells, and the multinucleated giant cells, do not contain significant amounts of lysosomal enzymes and more closely resemble stimulated lymphocytes. The splenic lesions in Hodkin's disease may be the result of a lymphocytic and histiocytic cellular response to an unknown agent, which reaches the spleen through the central artery in the white pulp.

Blastic phase of agnogenic myeloid metaplasia simulating malignant lymphoma

A patient with angogenic myeloid metaplasia in blastic transformation with unusually prominent lymphadenopathy simulating lymphoma is described. Interestingly, the initial evidence of myeloblastic transformation was present in the lymph nodes but not in the marrow. Serial bone marrow biopsies showed fibrosis throughout the course of the disease, in spite of a gradual increase in the percentage of peripheral blood myeloblasts. Aneuploidy with a marker chromosome and a Philadelphia-like chromosome was present in the lymph node, bone marrow, and peripheral blood cells. The literature is reviewed regarding the incidence of prominent lymphadenopathy and chromosome abnormalities in agnogenic myeloid metaplasia and other myeloproliferative disorders.

Biochemical Properties of Human Prostatic Acid Phosphatase

The electrophoretic pattern (in polyacrylamide gel) for acid phosphatases in the prostate gland was compared with that for other tissues. Isoenzyme 2 predominates in the prostate. The isoenzyme was isolated from the prostate and its biochemical properties were compared with those of acid phosphatases isolated from spleen. Isoenzyme 2 has a molecular weight of about 100,000. Its optimum pH is between 5 and 7, unlike other lysosomal enzymes. Its substrate specificity is not very much different from those of the most active isoenzymes of acid phosphatase in other tissues. Our results contraindicate the use of a specific substrate in the analysis of prostatic acid phosphatases. Determination of the isoenzyme pattern is a new approach in the specific analysis of prostatic acid phosphatases.

Esterases in human leukocytes

The esterases of human leukocytes were studied both by cytochemical methods and by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The aim of the study was to clarify the specificity of various cytochemical methods and to establish specific methods for demonstrating the various types of esterases in the blood cells. Nine bands of isoenzymes were separable by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis at pH 4.0. Bands 1, 2, 7, 8 and 9 were best demonstrated by naphthol AS-D chloroacetate and represented the activity of chloroacetate esterase as demonstrated by cytochemical methods in the granulocytes. Bands 3, 4, 5 and 6 were best demonstrated by naphthyl esters and represented "nonspecific esterases" as demonstrated by cytochemical methods in the monocytes, platelets and plasma cells. "Aminocaproate esterase" or "trypsin-like enzyme" was demonstrated only in the human mast cells. Its exact location in the gel system is unknown since pure human mast cell preparation was not available for study. These three groups of esterases had a substantial but not absolute substrate specificity. They can be specifically demonstrated in the various types of human blood cells only under properly controlled staining conditions.

Histochemical characterization of cellular and structural elements of the human spleen

Several histochemical methods were applied to identify the various cellular and structural elements of the human spleen. These included naphthol AS acetate esterase and reticulin stain for the sinuses, fluoride-resistant esterase for macrophages, alkaline phosphatase for vascular structures, chloroacetate esterase for neutrophils, cyanide-resistant peroxidase and chlorazol fast pink for eosinophils, toluidine blue for basophils and pseudoperoxidase for erythrocytes and erythroblasts. The methods are simple, sensitive and readily reproducible and are best used in combination, so that several types of cells can be identified simultaneously. The location of these cells in the spleen and the interaction between these cells are readily appreciated. These methods can be used to study the morphologic changes of spleen in various hematologic disorders.

Ultrastructural cytochemical demonstration of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase isoenzyme activity in "hairy cells" of leukemic reticuloendotheliosis

The pathognomonic "hairy cell" of leukemic reticuloendotheliosis was studied for ultrastructural localization of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity. The enzyme activity could not be demonstrated by Gomori's method, but it was readily demonstrated in the cytoplasmic vesicles and Golgi saccules of the hairy cell by substitution of naphthol AS-BI phosphoric acid for Na-beta-glycerophosphate of Gomori's medium. This apparent substrate specificity may be used as a marker for electron microscopic identification of the hairy cell, and may facilitate the study of histogenesis of leukemic reticuloendotheliosis.

Ultrastructural characteristics of the "hairy cells" of leukemic reticuloendotheliosis

The pathognomonic neoplastic reticulum cells, or "hairy cells" of leukemic reticuloendotheliosis from 6 patients were studied with the electron microscope. These cells demonstrated characteristic ultrastructural features which were distinctly different from those of lymphocytes, monocytes, or histiocytes. In 3 patients a distinctive ribosome-lamella complex was found. The biologic significance of this unusual cytoplasmic inclusion is still unknown. Its frequent presence in leukemic reticuloendotheliosis and its rarity in other neoplastic diseases suggest a substantial yet unexplained relationship between this complex and leukemic reticuloendotheliosis.

Studies of acid phosphatase isoenzymes in human leukocytes demonstration of isoenzyme cell specificity

Seven acid phosphatase isoenzymes, namely 0, 1, 2, 3, 3b, 4 and 5, in human leukocytes have been separated both by acrylamide gel electrophoresis and by ion exchange chromatography. The study of these isoenzymes in preparations of various cell types indicates that at least some of the isoenzymes are cell type-specific, i.e., isoenzyme o in Gaucher cells, 1, 2 and 4 in neutrophils, 1 and 4 in monocytes, 3 in lymphocytes and platelets, 3b in primitive blasts and 5 in reticulum cells of leukemic reticuloendotheliosis. Isoenzyme 5 is different from others in its resistance to l(+)-tartaric acid treatment. The persistent presence of abnormally high isoenzyme 5 in the reticulum cells of leukemic reticuloendotheliosis may be important for the differential diagnosis of this disease. Possible relationships between these isoenzymes and subcellular organelles are discussed.

Acid phosphatase isoenzyme in human leukocytes in normal and pathologic conditions

Acid phosphatase in human leukocytes was examined in a large number of patients with a variety of hematologic diseases. In chronic lymphocytic leukemia the total leukocyte acid phosphatase activity was markedly decreased. This was due to the drastic increase of enzyme-poor leukemic lymphocytes and the concomitant decrease of enzyme-rich monocytes and neutrophils. Further examination by disc gel electrophoresis revealed that the leukocytes in this disease contained only one of the five acid phosphatase isoenzymes present in a normal leukocyte preparation. Total acid phosphatase activity was not significantly altered in other hematologic disorders, yet different ratios of the isoenzymes shown by disc gel electrophoresis were observed in Hodgkin's disease, chronic granulocytic leukemia, acute granulocytic leukemia, infectious mononucleosis and leukemic reticuloendotheliosis.