Ribosome–Lamella Complexes in the Peripheral Blood of Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia are Associated with Serological Immune Deficiency

Abstract

The ribosome–lamella complex (RLC) is a cylindrical structure composed of different numbers of circular lamellae with associated particles, regarded as ribosomes, around a central core. Structures resembling RLC, but lacking the typical mature appearance of RLC, have been called pre-RLC. The authors have found RLCs and pre-RLCs in peripheral lymphocytes of 3 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The fact that CLL patients with RLCs were in early Rai clinical stages, had good clinical prognostic factors, and did not require immediate therapy indicates that RLCs occurred in the early course of some cases of CLL. Moreover, the presence of RLC was associated with hypogammaglobulinemia M.

Keywords:

• CLL
• hypogammablobulinemia
• intracytoplasmic inclusions
• peripheral lymphocytes
• ribosome–lamella complex
• ultrastructure

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.