Brief Definitive Report Unusual Human Lymphoma Phenotype Defined by Monoclonal Antibody

T h e deve lopment of monoclona l ant isera by the h y b r i d o m a technique permi ts the expans ion o f knowledge abou t h u m a n lymphoma . W e report a r emarkab le l ineage a m o n g the large cell l ymphomas that is devoid of Ia-l ike ant igen, exhibi ts clonal surface (or cytoplasmic) IgG, and reacts wi th monoclona l ant isera previously demons t ra ted to react only wi th ear ly thymocytes (1). The present findings: (a) extend our knowledge of the specificity of a group of monoclona l ant isera widely employed and (b) p rovide an add i t i ona l d i sc r iminant for the subdivis ion of h u m a n lymphoma . If, as some have proposed (2), l ymphomas represent expansions of specific lymphocy te subsets, this pheno type may represent a significant stage in lymphocy te development .