The functional deficiency of B lymphocytes in patients with lung cancer is due to inadequate T-cell help and excessive suppression by T and non-T cells.
The proliferative and plaque-forming cell (PFC) responses of unseparated mononuclear cells (MNC) and B- and T-cell-enriched populations of cells were analyzed in 15 patients with lung cancer to determine the mechanisms involved in the functional abnormality of their B cells. The PFC responses of the MNC of the patient group were significantly lower than those of normal controls. In addition, the enriched B cells of several patients showed a further decrease in their PFC responses after coculture with autologous T cells compared with their respective MNC responses. The proliferative response against phytohemagglutinin (PHA) was also lower in many of the patients after similar cocultures. Cocultures of patients' B cells with T cells from normal controls significantly enhanced the PFC responses in 7 patients. In most of the normal controls, B lymphocytes showed a significant decrease in their PFC responses after coculture with the patients' T cells. Although the percentages of total T cells, T-helper, and B cells were within the normal range, the number of suppressor T cells was significantly higher in the patient group. These results indicate that a combination of insufficient T-cell help, excessive suppression by both T and non-T cells, and a possible intrinsic B-cell abnormality are responsible for the B-cell functional deficiency observed in patients with lung cancer.
Venkataraman
M
M
Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital Medical Center/Rush Medical College, Chicago, Illinois 60608.
Rao
D S
DS
Iyer
B S
BS
Westerman
M P
MP
D000368:Aged; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*