Leukocytotoxic Antibodies in Patients Suffering from Various Forms of Leukemia.

Abstract

The results of a study on the leukocytotoxic activity of sera from patients with acute or chronic, myeloid or lymphoid leukemia are reported and discussed. In almost all cases circulating antibodies were found, active –- in isolation or simultaneously –- against suspensions of granulocytes and/or lymphocytes of normal subjects, and autologous and homologous leukemic cells from subjects with acute or chronic, myeloid or lymphatic leukemia. The presence of an immunologic process appeared to be independent of the type of leukemia, though the rate of positives in chronic lymphatic leukemia was lower. Antileukemic immunisation proved to be independent of the leukocyte count; however, the cases with anti-autologous leukocyte antibodies were among the leukopenics. These findings support the hypothesis that there is an immunologic humoral process of the antileukocytic type, though it does not seem to be active against specific neoformed antigens of the autologous leukemic cells. The probable autoimmune pathogenesis of these antibodies is discussed.