Impairment of lymphocyte transformation by plasma from patients with advanced Hodgkin's disease

Abstract

The effect of plasma from 34 patients with untreated Hodgkin's disease on the transformation of homologous normal lymphocytes was compared with that of plasma from matched normal control subjects. The plasma from some of the patients reduced lymphocyte responsiveness to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and this inhibitory effect was most obvious in plasma from patients with advanced-stage disease. In addition, the patient's own lymphocytes showed a depressed response to PHA, an effect also apparent to a greater degree in patients with advanced disease. This finding did not correlate with the numbers of available T-lymphocytes or the amount of unstimulated lymphocyte DNA synthesis, but did correlate with the observed plasma effects. It appears that impairment of lymphocyte transformation in Hodgkin's disease is in part due to soluble circulating inhibitory substances appearing as the disease progresses.

Suppression of the Mitogen Response of Normal Lymphocytes by Serum From Patients With Testicular Germ Cell Tumors

“…and Hodgkin's disease. 32 In the study with serum from patients with lung cancer,30 the patients who died within six months after the study had serum factors that impaired the lymphocyte transformation by PHA more extensively than had the patients who survived this period. In contrast, in our study, the patients with metastatic testicular germ cell tumors who had serum that most markedly impaired the lymphocyte transformation by PHA and the 'other patients survived in the same way.…”

The spleen in Hodgkin's disease. An immunohistochemical study of lymphocyte subpopulations and macrophages

“…Studies of the peripheral blood at different stages of the disease have, among other findings, shown an increase of suppressor T-cells (Han 1980) and suppressor monocytes (Hillinger & Herzig, 1978) as well as circulating inhibitory plasma factors (Sugden & Lilleyman 1980). Since the functional integrity of the immune system depends on both lymphocytes and cells of the monocyte-macrophage lineage, i.e.…”

“…Hodgkin's disease may cause a profound depression of cell-mediated immunity (Levy & Kaplan 1974, Twomey et al 1975) that is manifest in impaired hypersensitivity skin tests (Twomey et al 1980) and a decreased responsiveness to mitogens, antigens and allogeneic lymphocytes (Case, Hansen & Corvalen 1977, Engleman et al 1980). Studies of the peripheral blood at different stages of the disease have, among other findings, shown an increase of suppressor T-cells (Han 1980) and suppressor monocytes (Hillinger & Herzig, 1978) as well as circulating inhibitory plasma factors (Sugden & Lilleyman 1980). Since the functional integrity of the immune system depends on both lymphocytes and cells of the monocyte-macrophage lineage, i.e.…”