Chromosomes and Transformation of Lymphocytes in Lymphoproliferative Disorders

Abstract

Cardiac Surgery in Children-Harden et al.BRITISH 213 effect on cerebral electrogenesis. The relation between plasma electrolyte changes and increase in slow activity in the E.E.G. showed some individual variations, but we were not able to measure total body or urinary electrolyte values, osmolality of plasma or urine, or the rate at which these metabolic disturbances evolved. Differences in intravenous fluids given (5% dextrose, 0.09 or 0.18% NaCl/dextrose solution) did not affect substantially the general cycle of events. Neither the patient's age nor the type of operation appeared to influence the degree or the timing of the postoperative metabolic and E.E.G. changes.In conclusion, it has been our experience that a generalized increase in slow activity in the E.E.G. occurs between the first and the fourth day after heart surgery. The E.E.G. changes are fully reversible, in contrast to the effects of severe cerebral anoxia. The Brit. med. 7., 1968, 4, 213-220 Summary: In chronic lymphocytic leukaemia the majority of circulating lymphocytes which responded to phytohaemagglutinin in vitro were found to have normal karyotypes. A minor population of cells in patients treated with chemotherapy had an increased number of chromosomal rearrangements as compared with cells from normal controls and untreated patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Probably bonemarrow and lymph-node cells also had a normal karyotype.In the other lymphoproliferative disorders the peripheral blood lymphocytes had either normal karyotypes or chromosomal abnormalities attributable to treatment, even in those cases where the tumour cells of involved lymph nodes were known to have abnormal karyotypes.It was possible that circulating tumour cells were present in one case.

Lymphocyte Transformation in Immunoproliferative Disorders

“…The absolute number of these nonresponsive cells was increased in 2 FLL cases. Similar results have been obtained in patients with well-differentiated lymphocytic lymphomas (Quaglino and Cowling, 1964;Lawler et al, 1968;Rubin et al, 1969;Papac, 1970;Liknaitzky et al, 1970). These cells appear to be analogous to the non-transforming cells of CLL.…”

“…An abnormal lymphocyte population, non-responsive or slowly responsive to mitogens, has been demonstrated in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) (Quaglino and Cowling, 1964;Oppenheim et at., 1965;Thomson et al, 1966;Schrek, 1967;Lawler et al, 1968;Rubin et al, 1969). In CLL the percentage of blast transformation in response to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) correlates inversely with the total lymphocyte count (Hayhoe et al, 1967) Leucocyte suspension cultures were set up in triplicate in bijoux bottles (Catovsky and Holt, 1970) (Naspitz and Richter, 1967;Catovsky and Holt, 1970).…”

“…Lymphocyte transformation was assessed both morphologically by the percentage of blast cells, 1000 cells being counted (Pentycross, 1968), and by 3H-thymidine incorporation during DNA synthesis measured in a liquid scintillation counter (Holt et al, 1966 reduction in 3H-thymidine incorporation. Pokeweed mitogen produced blast transformation in 15 to 38% of normal lymphocytes (approximately half the number transformed with PHA).…”

Third Case of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia in a Carrier of the Inherited Ch1 Chromosome

“…Thirdly, there is no evidence of Chl or similar abnormalities in more than 70 cases of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia examined in this laboratory (Fitzgerald and Adams, 1965, and unpublished) and in several patients examined by others (Oppenheim et al, 1965;Lawler et al, 1968). Inherited or acquired cytogenetic abnormalities of a visible size are not significant in the aetiology of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia as a whole, though it is possible that changes of a smaller magnitude are involved (Fitzgerald, 1965).…”