Abstract
Lymphocytes of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia were analysed for acid ribonuclease (pH 5.8), alkaline ribonuclease (pH 7.8) and alkaline ribonuclease inhibitor. At the same time, responsiveness of the lymphocytes to phytohaemagglutinin was measured by determination of the incorporation of 3H‐thymidine in culture. Lymphocytes responsive to phytohaemagglutinin showed higher levels of total acid and alkaline ribonuclease than lymphocytes with low or no response to phytohaemagglutinin. In addition, large proportions of free alkaline ribonuclease were formed and all ribonuclease inhibitor inactivated in lymphocytes isolated from patients with low white cell counts. In contrast, low free ribonuclease and relatively high free inhibitor levels were found in lymphocytes from patients with high white cell counts.
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