title: [Macrophage membrane potential test: an electrophysiological modification of the Field-Caspary test in melanoma patients].
abstract: In modification of the cytopherometric test according to FIELD and CASPARY [3] were studied the influence of the cell-free supernatant (lymphokine) of the lymphocyte antigen reaction on the transmembrane potential of macrophages obtained from guinea pigs (peritoneal exsudate cells PEC). Macrophage membrane potential (MMP) was determined by glass microelectrode technique. In agreement with histological and clinical findings in malignant melanoma and Dubreuilh's disease with malignatization we observed a depolarization of the macrophage membrane up to 40% as compared with controls. A depolarization up to 60% was obtained in patients having undergone BCG vaccination, if the antigen used was PPD. In control persons and in non-malignant pigmentary tumors (such as foreign body granuloma) we found no variation of MMP. The results indicate that cell mediated immunity is closely correlated with membrane permeabilities, ion gradients and cell metabolism.
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005549:Foreign-Body Reaction / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007118:Immunoassay; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008548:Melanosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000175:diagnosis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*
vernacular_title: Der Makrophagen-Membranpotential-Test: Eine elektrophysiologische Modifikation des Field-Caspary-Tests bei Melanomkranken