Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia with Gamma Chain Cytoplasmic Inclusions

Abstract

A case of lymphocytosis diagnosed clinically as chronic lymphocytic leukemia is described. The lymphocytes possessed cytoplasmic inclusions that contained IgG-kappa immunoglobulin. Studies of immunoglobulin synthesis showed that the cells synthesized but did not secrete the immunoglobulin. The migration on polyacrylamide gels of the IgG heavy chain was anomalous, and it is proposed that this interfered with its normal secretion and allowed the development of cytoplasmic inclusions within the cell. These findings are unique when compared with previous studies of immunoglobulin biosynthesis by normal or leukemic peripheral blood lymphocytes.