title: [Detection of interferon-gamma in malignant peritoneal effusion in ovarian cancer patients].
abstract: Concanavalin A-induced human and mouse T cell proliferation assay was used to detect the suppressive activity of ascitic fluid (AF) in ovarian cancer patients. About 80% of AF specimens were found to be suppressive. However, when later tested for AF's effect on NK cell activity, instead of suppression, marked enhancement was observed. As IL-2 was barely detectable in AF, attention was focused on interferon (IFN). Its presence was then examined and confirmed by the ability of AF to protect HEp-2 cells from the cytopathic effect of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). As the protective effect against VSV was abolished by low pH treatment and by anti-human interferon gamma monoclonal antibodies (MAb), the IFN identified in AF was of the gamma type (IFN-gamma). The MAb could markedly inhibit not only AF's NK-enhancing effect but T cell suppressing effect as well. After removal of the IFN-gamma from AF by affinity chromatography, both activities of AF were lost. The possible clinical implication of this new finding with regards to host's anti-tumor resistance and prognosis is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing.
authors.forename: X Z
authors.initials: XZ
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D002455:Cell Division; D005260:Female; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D007371:Interferon-gamma