B and T lymphocytes are affected in lysosomal disorders--an immunoelectron microscopic study.

Circulating lymphocytes of four patients with mucopolysaccharidoses II and IIIA, four patients with juvenile neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis, one patient each with glycogenosis type II, infantile neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis, and Gaucher disease were classified by immunoelectron microscopy as B or T lymphocytes. Disease-specific lysosomal inclusions as well as non-specific lysosomal organelles, especially Gall bodies were identified in B and T lymphocytes. These non-quantitative studies indicate that both B and T lymphocytes participate in the lysosomal storage process.