Effect of BCG upon functional and phenotypic immune markers in rats bearing the Dunning R3327 MAT-LyLu prostatic adenocarcinoma.
Rats bearing (or not bearing) the Dunning R3327 MAT-LyLu prostatic adenocarcinoma were treated with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) and evaluated for immune competence using functional and phenotypic markers. Tumor presence significantly depressed total T and helper T cell representation along with the helper/suppressor T cell ratio. Functional immunity, measured by phytohemmagglutinin (PHA) induced blastogenesis, was also significantly depressed. When BCG was administered to non-tumor bearing animals, it had no effect upon T cell subset distributions but significantly reduced PHA induced blastogenesis. BCG similarly administered to tumor bearing animals did not alter the depressed helper/suppressor T cell ratio found in tumor bearing rats, but did significantly elevate PHA induced blastogenesis. However, these elevated levels of functional immunity in BCG treated tumor-bearing rats remained significantly below normal. These data demonstrate a poor correlation between functional and phenotypic assessments of immune capability.
Rubenstein
M
M
Department of Urology, Rush Presbyterian St. Lukes Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois 60612.
Shaw
M W
MW
Dubin
A
A
McKiel
C F
CF
Guinan
P D
PD
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D051381:Rats; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001500:BCG Vaccine