Autophagolysosomes exhibiting lysosomophagy in the granular lymphocytes of patients with granular lymphocyte-proliferative disorders

The ultrastructure of granular lymphocytes (GLs) in the peripheral blood of 12 patients with granular lymphocyte-proliferative disorders (GLPDs) was studied. Autophagolysosomes exhibiting so-called “lysosomophagy” were seen in the GLs of four of these patients but not in normal individuals. Because rod-shaped lysosomes beginning to enclose other lysosomes were seen, the autophagolysosomes exhibiting lysosomophagy in GLs were thought to be formed by the same wrapping mechanism. As far as we know, this is the first report of lysosomophagy in lymphocytes.