Terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase activity in B-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia

Blood. 1978 Feb;51(2):181-7.

Abstract

Moderately high levels of activity of the enzyme terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase (TdT) were found in the leukemic cells of a patient with acute lymphyocytic leukemia. The proliferating cells were B lymphocytes bearing IgG antibody, and the disease was associated with an IgG monoclonal spike and a mediastinal mass. The observations in this case suggest that TdT is related more to the immaturity and proliferation of certain lymphoid stem cells than to their progress toward B- or T-cell differentiation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • B-Lymphocytes / enzymology
  • DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / blood
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Lymphoid / enzymology*
  • Male
  • Nucleotidyltransferases / blood*
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell
  • Remission, Spontaneous
  • Rosette Formation
  • T-Lymphocytes / enzymology

Substances

  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell
  • Nucleotidyltransferases
  • DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase