Alpha-2-macroglobulin deficiency in patients with advanced prostate cancer.
Four out of approximately 36,000 specimens, examined by immunoelectrophoresis, showed no precipitin line of alpha-2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M) with anti-whole human serum and antiserum to alpha 2M. Serum alpha 2M levels were below 10 mg/100 ml with single radial immunodiffusion. These cases were diagnosed as having prostate cancer based on prostate biopsy. After estrogen or anti-androgen therapy, the initially severe deficiency of alpha 2M changed toward normal limits. Phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-induced lymphocytes from patients with severe alpha 2M deficiency revealed normal response. Sera from patients with alpha 2M deficiency and healthy subjects (serum alpha 2M concentration of 8-208 mg/100 ml) did not suppress lymphocyte response to PHA, while purified alpha 2M from fetal cord and healthy sera, and serum from a patient with advanced urinary cancer (serum alpha 2M concentration above 360 mg/100 ml) to PHA-induced lymphocytes demonstrated a dose-dependent suppression. Thus, these results indicate that alpha 2M in elevated concentration results in decreased PHA-induced lymphocyte response and suggest that alpha 2M may have, principally suppressive, immunoregulatory properties in vivo.
Ohtani
H
H
Saito
M
M
Koshiba
K
K
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D006728:Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D007122:Immunoelectrophoresis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000032:analysis; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins / Q000032:analysis*
D006728:Hormones; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins