Immunoglobulin and ϑ-Bearing Murine Leukemias and Lymphomas

Abstract

Murine lymphocytes can be separated into two distinct populations. The thymusderived T lymphocytes are responsible for cell mediated immunity and are identified by the ϑ isoantigen. The bone marrow derived B lymphocytes are the precursors of the antibody-forming cells and are identified by the presence of easily detectable surface immunoglobulin. In this study, 24 murine leukemias and lymphomas and eight plasma cell tumors were investigated for the presence of the ϑ isoantigen and determinants of the kappa light chain. Of the leukemias and lymphomas studied, 12 have the ϑ isoantigen and are of T cell origin; one tumor bore kappa light chain and is presumably of B cell origin. Eleven of the tumors studied had no detectable ϑ or kappa determinants. Four of the eight plasma cell tumors have surface kappa determinants. No ϑ positive tumors bore kappa chain determinants and no kappa positive tumors bore ϑ determinants. The characterization of leukemias and lymphomas as to their B or T cell origin will provide large numbers of pure B and T lymphoid cells useful for a variety of studies.