Natural evolution and pathological alterations of lymphoid cell proteins. Immunochemical characteristics of soluble antigens.

Abstract

Abstract Lymphoid cells carefully separated, thoroughly washed, and tested to insure freedom from noncellular protein contamination, were extracted to prepare soluble proteins for immunodiffusion assays. IgG was detected in all samples from subjects between two weeks and 60 years of age, but it was absent in most neoplastic extracts. IgA showed a comparable pattern except for its later initial appearance in thymic extracts. IgM was absent in all extracts except neonatal and neoplastic lymphocytes. It was suggested that lymphoid organs pass through sequential stages of evolution which are most marked during the first few years of life, and that neoplasia represents reversion to a chronologically immature state at which time lymphocytes either lose their pertinent biosynthetic function or the capacity to release products important in host defense. The transferrin pattern suggested a selective nonhomogeneous lymphocyte function. Disappearance of the normally present α 2 -macroglobulin with malignancy probably represents a balance between fibrin deposition and lysis achieved when this plasmin inhibitor is removed. There was no evidence of evolutionary or pathological changes in the lymphoid cell albumin content. The results indicate that the intralymphocyte protein patterns are related to lymphocyte origin, age and disease state of cell donor. The purpose of this study was to define certain immunochemical features of proteins found in cells of various lymphoid organs, and to relate these characteristics to evolutionary changes which occur during phases of normal tissue growth and development of lymphoreticular neoplasms.