Histochemical study on human germinal centre, mantle-zone and extra-follicular area lymphoid cell subpopulations. Immunological and cytochemical correlations with lymphomatous cells, peripheral normal and leukemic lymphocytes

Tissue sections of lymph nodes, appendices and tonsils, together with smears of immunologically separated peripheral lymphoid cells from a B-CLL and lymphomatous cells from an immunocytoma were submitted to combined enzyme cytochemical investigations with acid α-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE), β-glucuronidase (B-G), acid phosphatase (AcPh), adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase), a,d 5'-nucleotidase (5'N). T-cells were AcPh+, ATPase- and 5'N-. The vast majority of T- and B-cells displayed ANAE and B-G activities with two distinct staining patterns (T-like and B-like pattern). A high proportion of lymphoid cells in the germinal centre (G.C.) and the vast majority of lymphoid cells in the mantle-zone (M.Z.) were shown to belong to B-cell system becaused of the expression of ATPase and 5'N in their membranes. Some lymphoid cells positive for ANAE and B-G with a B-like pattern and for AcPh were recognizable in the G.C. In the M.Z. only a few lymphoid cells being ANAE⁺, with a T-like pattern, and AcPh⁺ were shown to belong to the T-cell system. In contrast, in this zone a high proportion of small lymphoid cells (64% ± 10%) showed ANAE activity, mostly with B-like pattern. Therefore, these findings indicate that in the M.Z. a high proportion of B-cells ATPase⁺ and 5'N⁺ also display ANAE activity. By comparison of the results obtained from lymphoid tissue sections, B-CLL and immunocytoma cell suspensions and normal circulating lymphocytes we can conclude that B-ANAE-positive cells of the M.Z. do not usually appear in the peripheral blood. They circulate in large numbers only in some pathological conditions (like our reported B-CLL). Therefore, B-ANAE-positive lymphoid cells of the mantle, with a B-like staining pattern, include a wide range of subsets which exclude large lymphoid cells and plasma cells.