Increased sensitivity of human leukemic granulocytes to heterophil antibody in normal rabbit sera 1,2

Heterophil antibodies in normal rabbit sera sensitized granulocytes from 6 chronic granulocytic leukemic patients to complement lysis but (ailed to sensitize the leukocytes from 11 normal donors. Sensitization due to heterophil antibodies in the normal rabbit sera was measured by the detection of leakage of 51Cr from sensitized labeled cells undergoing complement lysis. The difference in sensitivity to normal rabbit sera of normal and leukemic cells was highly significant (P<0.001). Since adsorption of normal rabbit sera by leukemic granulocytes or by normal leukocytes reduced the ability of these sera to sensitize leukemic granulocytes equally well, our results indicate significant differences in the response of the normal and leukemic granulocyte cell membranes to antibody and complement. It is not yet known how these differences are ultimately determined or if they reflect immaturity or the neoplastic origin of leukemic granulocytes.