Double immunoenzymatic detection of surface phenotype of proliferating lymphocytes in situ with monoclonal antibodies against DNA polymerase alpha and lymphocyte membrane antigens.

To detect the proliferating cells in situ, a monoclonal antibody against human DNA polymerase alpha (pol alpha) was employed because this enzyme is known to be present in the nucleus of the cells in G1, S, and G2 phases. In addition, the surface phenotype of pol alpha-positive proliferating lymphocytes in diseased lymph nodes was determined by double staining consisting of immunoperoxidase and immunoalkaline phosphatase methods with various monoclonal antibodies against lymphocyte membrane antigens. In the paracortical area of lymph nodes with reactive changes, proliferating cells were 17% or less, and most of them were helper T-cells, although suppressor T-cells and B-cells also proliferate to a certain extent. In contrast, the proliferating cell population in malignant lymphomas was generally more than 40%, and it showed a single surface phenotype, indicating monoclonal proliferation. In addition, an unusual T-cell antigen phenotype of proliferating cells was observed in some cases of peripheral T-cell lymphomas. Thus, this double staining provided the authors with valuable information regarding the proportion, localization, and surface phenotype of proliferating cells, which should be useful for diagnosis of the diseases of lymphoid system.