title: Comparative study on lymphocyte subpopulations in cancer patients after immunostimulation with propionibacteria and in renal transplant patients after combined immunosuppression.
abstract: In two groups of patients the influence of unspecific immunostimulation (group 1) and combined immunosuppression (group 2) on lymphocyte subpopulations was studied. Patients constituting group 1 suffered from gastric and colorectal carcinoma, respectively, and were preoperatively treated with 10 mg whole cell preparation of immunostimulating Propionibacterium avidum KP-40 (Köln-Propioni, strain 40). Patients of group 2 were submitted to combined immunosuppressive therapy and treated with antilymphocyte globulin, prednisone, and azathioprine subsequent to renal transplantation. Immunostimulation with P. avidum KP-40 resulted in a significant increase (p less than or equal to 0.01) of the natural killer (NK) cell population, whereas total leukocyte and lymphocyte counts as well as helper and suppressor T lymphocyte subsets did not evidently differ from control values. On the contrary after immunosuppression all subsets of lymphocytes as well as NK cells significantly decreased.
authors: Chirurgische Universitätsklinik Köln, Cologne, Fed. Rep. of Germany.
authors: K M
authors: KM
authors: Peters
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Pfeiffer
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Bornhofen
authors: H L
authors: HL
authors: Ko
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Beuth
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Grundmann
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Pulverer
mesh_terms: D001379:Azathioprine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005916:Globulins / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000494:pharmacology; D011424:Propionibacterium / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D005916:Globulins; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D001379:Azathioprine; D011241:Prednisone