Enzymatic studies in the different types of normal and leukemic human white cells.

By J. FRE!, CL. BOREL, G. HORVATH, B. CULLITY AND A. VANNOTFI I ODAY it is known that the leukocyte possesses a very complete enzymatic equipment. As well as the systems connected with its special functions, the majority of the fundamental cellular processes are represented in the white cell, as is shown in the monograph on the metabolism of the leukocyte written by Bazm and Delaunay.’ However, the heterogeneity of the preparation, obtained either from blood or from peritoneal exudates, is an obstacle in the interpretation of the results, as each category of cells forming the white population has its particular metabolic abilities. Histochemical methods, for example, allow us to state that alkaline phosphatase is well represented in the neutrophilic polynuclear cells but is absent in the lymphocyte,2 and that esterase is irregularly present.3 Fleisher,4 studying the lymphocyte, obtained from lymph nodes and preparations of circulating leukocytes, showed that glycylglycine peptidase is much more active in the lymphocyte than in the polymorphonuclear. St#{228}helin5 has shown that the mononucleated cell, obtained by irritation of the peritoneum with glycogen, has different metabolic characteristics from those of the polymorphonuclear cell resulting from exudates provoked by casein. We wondered what part was played in the total enzyme activity by each of the different white cell elements making up the blood formula in man, and, iii this study, we have tried to resolve the problem mathematically.