Phase contrast microscopic appearance of NLC and leukemia B cells.

(A) Large, round NLCs surrounded by smaller round leukemia B cells could be seen in cultures of nonseparated (upper left) or CD2-depleted (upper right) blood mononuclear cells of patients with CLL. These cells were not observed in cultures of CD14-depleted mononuclear cells (lower left) or in cultures of isolated CD19⁺ cells (lower right). (B) Leukemia cell viability was monitored over time in cultures of isolated CD19⁺ cells (■) or of CD2-depleted (●), CD14-depleted (▴), or nondepleted (▪) blood mononuclear cells. Error bars indicate the SE about the mean of triplicate wells.