LYMPHOCYTE-B AND LYMPHOCYTE-T 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 lyosomal inclusions as well as non-specific lysosmal 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.