title: The immune system during the pre-cancer and the early cancer period. IL-2 production by PBL from post-menopausal women with and without endometrial carcinoma.
abstract: We report on alterations in IL-2 production and cell proliferation following PHA stimulation of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from stage-I endometrial carcinoma (EC) patients, and on mechanisms involved in these alterations. Our study includes 3 groups: EC patients, post-menopausal women at high risk of developing EC, and age-matched healthy women. IL-2 production was markedly lower in most EC patients than in healthy controls. Varying levels of IL-2 were produced by PBL from women in the high-risk group. The proliferative response of PBL to PHA appeared to correlate with levels of IL-2 production. Our results suggest that macrophages are involved, in part, in the modulation of T-cell functions of EC patients.
mesh_terms: D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000276:immunology*; D012306:Risk; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D007213:Indomethacin