title: Relationship between immune system and gram-negative bacteria. Acid-treated Salmonella minnesota R595 (Re) enhances immune responsiveness in patients with gynecologic malignancies.
abstract: Nine patients with gynecologic malignancies (six cervix, two endometrium and one ovary) were injected with acid-treated Salmonella minnesota R595 (Re). Patients received a total of four injections (at increasing doses from 0.5 to 3 micrograms) every 2 weeks. All patients, before treatment, had a severe impairment of their immune system either of cell-mediated immunity (leukocyte inhibiting factor activity) or non-specific immunity (polymorphonuclear cell and/or monocyte-mediated phagocytosis and killing). In contrast, the same patients displayed a normal Natural Killer cell frequency in their peripheral blood as evaluated in an agarose-single cell cytotoxic assay. At the end of the immunotherapeutic regimen, all the above immune functions significantly augmented likely via an immunomodulating effect exerted by the lipid A portion of Salmonella minnesota Re which represents the lipopolysaccharide molecule in these bacteria. This suggests a potential role for lipid A in the treatment of cancer-related immunodeficiency.
mesh_terms: D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008050:Lipid A / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology; D010587:Phagocytosis; D012475:Salmonella / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D008050:Lipid A; D008222:Lymphokines; C010598:leukocyte inhibitory factor