In vitro induction of T suppressor lymphocytes in recipients of renal allografts by THF, a thymic hormone.
Lymphocyte subpopulations were determined in 13 patients, recipients of kidney allografts, 7 of them during an acute rejection episode (ARE). Monitoring of the T lymphocyte suppressor or T helper cells was performed by aid of the theophylline sensitivity test and the local xenogeneic graft-versus-host reaction (GVHR). An absence or a striking decrease of theophylline-sensitive T suppressor cells was found in all patients during ARE. Incubation of the lymphocytes of these patients with a thymic hormone, THF, raised the number of TS lymphocytes from nil or from a very low level to normal or above. The therapeutic use of THF in selected renal allograft recipients is proposed.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006087:Graft vs Host Reaction / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D013806:Theophylline / Q000494:pharmacology; D013935:Thymic Factor, Circulating / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013951:Thymus Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*
D013951:Thymus Hormones; D013935:Thymic Factor, Circulating; D013806:Theophylline