1031
Garrett, in preparation) suggest that the permeability of the blood-brain barrier is not fully developed during fetal life. Our results and those of Dr Thorley and his collaborators are in agreement with the observation that the total C.S.F. is higher in newborn c.s.F. protein concentration of than in normal adults.6 Paediatric Research Unit,
Guy’s Hospital Medical School, London SE1 9RT.
MARY J. SELLER MATTEO ADINOLFI.
LYMPHOID CELLS IN JEJUNAL MUCOSA SIR,-In the preliminary communication by Dr Ferguson and her colleagues (April 19, p. 895) the question arose as to whether, in man, the lymphoid cells in the jejunal mucosa consisted of T cells, B cells, or some other cell type. We have been studying the lymphocytes in both the epithelium and lamina propria of the jejunal mucosa in two groups of identically reared and fed mice, one group with normal thymus glands and. a group that were congenitally athymic. Studies on the athymic mice have shown that they have no T cells in either the lymphoid tissue or the general circulation. There were no quantitative differences in lymphocyte numbers in either the epithelium or lamina propria between the two groups of mice. After giving both groups of animals an oral gluten load (500 mg. per kg. body-weight) daily for three weeks, we noted a significant depression of lamina propria lymphocyte numbers in both groups, together with a significant reduction in villous height. In the athymic mice, crypt hyperplasia occurred. After gluten loading there were no quantitative differences in lymphocyte numbers between the two groups of mice. Crypt hyperplasia and a reduction in villous height occur in coeliac disease, together with a reduction in the lymphocyte population of the lamina propria.7,8 We presume the changes seen in the gluten-loaded animals are a result of an immunological reaction to gluten, and that functioning T cells were not required fpr this reaction to occur. Though the human situation may not be comparable, the possibility of a similar immunological process cannot be dismissed. Nutritional and Intestinal Unit, The General Hospital, Birmingham, and the Department of Experimental
Pathology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham 15.
with better clinical prognosis) and one without. thus four possibilities: (1) both forms of C.M.L. (ph1+ve and Ph-ve) involve the same agent; (2) the two forms of C.M.L. involve different agents; (3) only one form of C.M.L. involves an agent; (4) neither form of C.M.L. involves an agent. Precise diagnosis is also important in estimating familial incidence. For example, we are studying a family in which one member currently has acute myeloid leukxmia. Her brother (one year older) died at age 12 years with a diagnosis of acute lymphatic leukaemia. Subsequent re-examination of marrow slides disclosed that his marrow at death was identical to that of his sister. The fact that two sibs out of four acquired the same neoplastic disease within a relatively short time period initiated chromosome studies. We suggest that workers looking into social contacts between leukaemia and lymphoma patients should document the type of neoplasia and in cases of C.M.L. determine whether Ph1-positive C.M.L. and Ph1-negative C.M.L. may, in fact, be getiologically related.
(associated
There
are
Genetics Clinic, Child Development and Rehabilitation Center, University of Oregon Health Sciences Center, Portland, Oregon 97201, U.S.A.
FREDERICK HECHT BARBARA KAISER MCCAW.
T-ASSOCIATED PLASMA-CELLS SIR,—The plasma-cell is one of the effector cells of the B-lymphocyte system. However, there is also a special type of plasma-cell which has a very particular morphology and is typically associated with the T-cell region of the lymphatic system. One of us described these cells as lymphoblasts occurring mostly in clusters in the lymphnode pulp (Lymphoblasten-Nester).l,2 The nucleus has the same volume as that of small centroblasts (germinoblasts)1; 1. Lennert, K., Remmele, W. Acta hœmat. 1958, 19, 99. 2. Lennert, K. in Handbuch der speziellen pathologischen Anatomie und Histologie (edited by O. Lubarsch, F. Henke, R. Rössle, and E. Uehlinger); vol. 1/3 A. Berlin, 1961.
R. FERGUSON P. ASQUITH D. CATTY W. T. COOKE.
SOCIAL CONTACTS AND LEUKÆMIALYMPHOMA: THE PHILADELPHIA CHROMOSOME REARRANGEMENT SiR,—The paper by Dr Schimpff and his co-workers (Jan. 18, p. 124) provides data " consistent with the hypothesis that some forms of human leukaemia and lymphoma may be associated with the transmission of some agent(s) from person to person." The " agent(s) " they have in mind are presumably viruses. In order to further investigate the contributing factors, we should like to emphasise (1) the contribution of cytogenetic studies and (2) the importance of accurate diagnosis. Amid the networks of social contacts studied by Schimpff et al., there were three patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (C.M.L.), one of whom is still alive. Clinically and chromosomally there appear to be two types of C.M.L.: one with the Philadelphia chromosome (PhI) rearrangement Part of 6. 7. 8.
Laterre, E. C. Ricerca Clin. Lab. 1973, 3, 736. Holmes, G. K. T., Asquith, P., Stokes, P. L., Cooke, W. T. Gut, 1974, 15, 278. Ferguson, R., Asquith, P., Cooke, W. T. ibid. p. 458.
a
cluster of T-associated
plasma-cells
in
a
human
lymph-node. Clear cytoplasm has relatively few ergastoplasmic profiles arranged concentrically around the nucleus ( x 8500).
..
Garrett, in preparation) suggest that the permeability of the blood-brain barrier is not fully developed during fetal life. Our results and those of Dr Thorley and his collaborators are in agreement with the observation that the total C.S.F. is higher in newborn c.s.F. protein concentration of than in normal adults.6 Paediatric Research Unit,
Guy’s Hospital Medical School, London SE1 9RT.
MARY J. SELLER MATTEO ADINOLFI.
LYMPHOID CELLS IN JEJUNAL MUCOSA SIR,-In the preliminary communication by Dr Ferguson and her colleagues (April 19, p. 895) the question arose as to whether, in man, the lymphoid cells in the jejunal mucosa consisted of T cells, B cells, or some other cell type. We have been studying the lymphocytes in both the epithelium and lamina propria of the jejunal mucosa in two groups of identically reared and fed mice, one group with normal thymus glands and. a group that were congenitally athymic. Studies on the athymic mice have shown that they have no T cells in either the lymphoid tissue or the general circulation. There were no quantitative differences in lymphocyte numbers in either the epithelium or lamina propria between the two groups of mice. After giving both groups of animals an oral gluten load (500 mg. per kg. body-weight) daily for three weeks, we noted a significant depression of lamina propria lymphocyte numbers in both groups, together with a significant reduction in villous height. In the athymic mice, crypt hyperplasia occurred. After gluten loading there were no quantitative differences in lymphocyte numbers between the two groups of mice. Crypt hyperplasia and a reduction in villous height occur in coeliac disease, together with a reduction in the lymphocyte population of the lamina propria.7,8 We presume the changes seen in the gluten-loaded animals are a result of an immunological reaction to gluten, and that functioning T cells were not required fpr this reaction to occur. Though the human situation may not be comparable, the possibility of a similar immunological process cannot be dismissed. Nutritional and Intestinal Unit, The General Hospital, Birmingham, and the Department of Experimental
Pathology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham 15.
with better clinical prognosis) and one without. thus four possibilities: (1) both forms of C.M.L. (ph1+ve and Ph-ve) involve the same agent; (2) the two forms of C.M.L. involve different agents; (3) only one form of C.M.L. involves an agent; (4) neither form of C.M.L. involves an agent. Precise diagnosis is also important in estimating familial incidence. For example, we are studying a family in which one member currently has acute myeloid leukxmia. Her brother (one year older) died at age 12 years with a diagnosis of acute lymphatic leukaemia. Subsequent re-examination of marrow slides disclosed that his marrow at death was identical to that of his sister. The fact that two sibs out of four acquired the same neoplastic disease within a relatively short time period initiated chromosome studies. We suggest that workers looking into social contacts between leukaemia and lymphoma patients should document the type of neoplasia and in cases of C.M.L. determine whether Ph1-positive C.M.L. and Ph1-negative C.M.L. may, in fact, be getiologically related.
(associated
There
are
Genetics Clinic, Child Development and Rehabilitation Center, University of Oregon Health Sciences Center, Portland, Oregon 97201, U.S.A.
FREDERICK HECHT BARBARA KAISER MCCAW.
T-ASSOCIATED PLASMA-CELLS SIR,—The plasma-cell is one of the effector cells of the B-lymphocyte system. However, there is also a special type of plasma-cell which has a very particular morphology and is typically associated with the T-cell region of the lymphatic system. One of us described these cells as lymphoblasts occurring mostly in clusters in the lymphnode pulp (Lymphoblasten-Nester).l,2 The nucleus has the same volume as that of small centroblasts (germinoblasts)1; 1. Lennert, K., Remmele, W. Acta hœmat. 1958, 19, 99. 2. Lennert, K. in Handbuch der speziellen pathologischen Anatomie und Histologie (edited by O. Lubarsch, F. Henke, R. Rössle, and E. Uehlinger); vol. 1/3 A. Berlin, 1961.
R. FERGUSON P. ASQUITH D. CATTY W. T. COOKE.
SOCIAL CONTACTS AND LEUKÆMIALYMPHOMA: THE PHILADELPHIA CHROMOSOME REARRANGEMENT SiR,—The paper by Dr Schimpff and his co-workers (Jan. 18, p. 124) provides data " consistent with the hypothesis that some forms of human leukaemia and lymphoma may be associated with the transmission of some agent(s) from person to person." The " agent(s) " they have in mind are presumably viruses. In order to further investigate the contributing factors, we should like to emphasise (1) the contribution of cytogenetic studies and (2) the importance of accurate diagnosis. Amid the networks of social contacts studied by Schimpff et al., there were three patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (C.M.L.), one of whom is still alive. Clinically and chromosomally there appear to be two types of C.M.L.: one with the Philadelphia chromosome (PhI) rearrangement Part of 6. 7. 8.
Laterre, E. C. Ricerca Clin. Lab. 1973, 3, 736. Holmes, G. K. T., Asquith, P., Stokes, P. L., Cooke, W. T. Gut, 1974, 15, 278. Ferguson, R., Asquith, P., Cooke, W. T. ibid. p. 458.
a
cluster of T-associated
plasma-cells
in
a
human
lymph-node. Clear cytoplasm has relatively few ergastoplasmic profiles arranged concentrically around the nucleus ( x 8500).
..
