Number of helper T cells and phytohemagglutinin stimulation correlate in cancer patients.
Mononuclear cells from 12 normal controls (co), 10 advanced untreated (c1), and 6 advanced treated cancer patients (c2) have been isolated. The numbers of mononuclear cells bearing Leu1, Leu2, Leu3, Leu2/HLA-DR and LeuM3 were measured with a fluorescence-activated cell sorter. Only the quantity of helper T cells (Leu3) was decreased in cancer patients (co: 0.89, cl: 0.32, c2: 0.44 x 10(9)/l). Expression of all other markers, including activated suppressor T cells (Leu2/HLA-DR), did not differ significantly from the control. The proliferation of the lymphocytes was determined in a phytohemagglutinin-culture assay. The cancer groups showed a significantly decreased response (co: 95.8 x 10(9), cl: 28.7 x 10(9), c2: 25.7 x 10(9) cpm). These values correlated with the number of helper T cells but not with the suppressor T cells. Monocytes of cancer patients absorbed significantly more immunoglobulins than the monocytes of controls. The addition of indomethacin or isoprinosine to phytohemagglutinin-culture assay increased the proliferation of lymphocytes from both the cancer patients and normal controls.
Department of Neoplastic Diseases, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029.
J
J
Richner
E P
EP
Ambinder
K
K
Hoffmann
E J
EJ
Feuer
G
G
Bekesi
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*
D016827:CD8 Antigens; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins