Incorporation of Uridine-3H and Sodium Acetate-14C in Lymphocytes Derived from Normal and Leukemic Individuals

Patterns of isotope incorporation indicative of histone acetylation and RNA synthesis were studied in lymphocytes derived from patients with chronic and acute lymphoblastic leukemia and were compared to normal controls. Cultures with and without phytohemagglutinin stimulation were investigated. Statistically significant differences were observed between cultures of the leukemic patients and normal individuals but not between the two types of leukemia. Cells from leukemic patients incorporated both sodium acetate-14C and uridine-3H without phytohemagglutinin stimulation (“spontaneous”), while normal lymphocytes required the addition of phytohemagglutinin. This technique may prove useful in predicting the hematological relapse of leukemic patients currently in remission.