The B‐Lymphocyte Nature of the Hairy Cell of Leukaemic Reticuloendotheliosis

Abstract

Summary. Functional studies were performed on the ‘hairy’ cells of five cases of leukaemic reticuloendotheliosis (LRE) to see whether they behaved as histiocytes or lymphocytes. The ‘hairy’ cells were less active than normal or leukaemic monocytes in respect of adhesion to glass, transformation to macrophages and phagocytosis and killing of Candida; they also lacked IgG and C3 receptors for immune phagocytosis. Surface‐bound immunoglobulins were demonstrated in a high proportion of ‘hairy’ cells; and they did not form rosettes with sheep red cells. Similar results were obtained with the lymphocytes of chronic lymphocytic and prolymphocytic leukaemia. In addition, the majority of the ‘hairy’ cells in one case were found to have C3 receptors for immune complexes. The ‘hairy’ cells of three patients did not respond to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) or to pokeweed mitogen (PWM) but, in another case, half the cells transformed normally with PHA. It is concluded that the ‘hairy’ cell is of lymphocytic origin (resembling B lymphocytes) and that LRE should be included within the lymphoproliferative disorders and differentiated from histiocytic‐cell disorders.

T-cell lymphoma in children and young adults: clinical, immunological and pathological features

“…However, using combination chemotherapy regimes that are effective in acute lymphocytic leukaemia, more encouraging results have been obtained (Weinstein et al, 1979). Patients with leukaemia or marrow infiltration at diagnosis still have a poor prognosis (Catovsky et al, 1974). Four of the 5 patients who presented with no marrow involvement are still alive at the time of writing.…”

Hairy Cell Leukemia in a Patient with Polycythemia Vera

“…The nature of the hairy cell is still unclear. Different investigators claim that the cell is a monocyte [7], a lym phocyte [8], or a combined lympho-mono cell [9]. It is also possible that the hairy cells represent a neoplastic transformation of a very primitive cell manifesting the characteristics of a lymphocyte or a mono cyte, depending on its route of maturation [10], This unusual evolution of polycy themia vera to hairy cell leukemia illus trates once again the versatility of myelo proliferative disorders.…”

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: a heterogenous disease.

“…lymphoblasts (Collins et al, 1974) though several recent reports suggest that some cases of A.L.L. are Tcell neoplasms (Borella and Sen, 1973;Seligmann et al, 1973;Belpomme et al, 1974;Catovsky et al, 1974 b). We described a single case of A.L.L.…”