title: Pokeweed mitogen-induced immunoglobulin secretion by peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with primary intracranial tumors. Characterization of T helper and B cell function.
abstract: We have previously demonstrated that patients with primary malignant brain tumors have impaired in vivo and in vitro cell-mediated immunity. The purpose of the present research was to employ pokeweed mitogen (PWM)-induced secretion of immunoglobulin (Ig) by peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) to further investigate impaired lymphocyte function in these patients. The PWM response of PBL from normal individuals averaged 8384 plaque-forming cells (PFC) per 10(6) cells, whereas the response of PBL from patients averaged 1590 PFC/10(6). The decreased PWM response of PBL patients could not be improved by varying the number of PBL placed in culture or employing different concentrations of PWM. Co-culture experiments to detect the presence of suppressor cells in PBL and purified T cell preparations from patients demonstrated that enhanced suppressor cell activity was not evident. Next, experiments were performed to assess the T-helper cell activity present in purified T cell preparations obtained from patients. The results demonstrated that T cells from patients lacked the ability to provide adequate helper activity in the PWM response. Moreover, studies with monoclonal antibodies directed against T cell subsets revealed that PBL from patients have a reduced percentage of T-helper cells (40%) as compared with normal values (55%). In concert with T-helper cell anomalies, B cell function in these patients also is diminished. Thus, these observations indicate that a combined T-helper and B cell defect may contribute to the broad impairment of host immunocompetence observed in patients with primary gliomas.
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Roszman
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Steele
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Elliott
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D006801:Humans; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000276:immunology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens