Induction of Suppressor Cell Activity in Normal Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells by Sera from Predialytic Uremic Patients

Abstract

Normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were primed with sera from 22 predialytic uremic patients, normal sera, concanavalin A, or both. Their suppressive activity was subsequently tested on fresh phytohemagglutinin-stimulated allogeneic responders (i.e., genetically unrelated to either primed cell or sera donors). Uremic serum induced suppressor cell activity in the normal PBMC. No correlation was found between serum urea/creatinine levels and their effects on suppressor cell activity. The induced activity, expressed as percent suppression, was similar to that induced by concanavalin A. In PBMC primed with both concanavalin A and uremic serum, an additive suppressive effect was evident. The suppressor subset(s) induced by uremic serum proved to belong to adherent cell population. Addition of indomethacin or catalase to responder systems did not abolish the suppressive effects, thus suggesting a mechanism of action other than prostaglandin or hydrogen peroxide release.

Alterations in mononuclear cell tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) response in patients on long term cuprophane haemodialysis

“…[33] demonstrated that prolonged treatment of mice with IL-I results in many pathological alterations, including massive release of corticosterone which causes splenic and thymic athrophy. Therefore, in addition to many immunosuppressive factors found in uraemic serum [34], activation of hypolhalaniic-pituilary-adrcnal axis due to persistently stimulated production of TN F-a and other monokines by haemodiaiysis treatment may underly impaired immunity in dialyscd patients.…”