Immunofluorescence Studies in Human Leukemia

L YMPHOID TISSUES of mice injected with Rauscher leukemia virus have been shown, by immunofluorescent technics, to contain antigen ( s ) reactive with antimurine leukemia antibody prepared against the Rauscher strain.’ Other immunofluorescent studies2’3 have demonstrated that blood and bone marrow cells from patients with leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, polycythemia, teratoma, mycosis fungoides, carcinomatosis, megaloblastic anemia, anemias of diverse origins and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura were also reactive with the antimurine leukemia antibody prepared against the Rauscher strain. Fluorescent anti-human leukemia antibody has been shown to react with bone marrow cells from patients with leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and lymphosarcoma.2’4’5 Positive reactions have been reported6’7 in patients with Burkitt’s lymphoma using an indirect immunofluorescence test. The purposes of this paper are to study further the above described immunofluorescent reaction of leukemia blood cells and to determine the variance of this reaction in leukemia patients receiving therapy.