Reactivity of lymphocytes from primary neoplasms of lymphoid tissues

Abstract

Proliferative responses by blood and tumor lymphocytes to plant mitogens and allogeneic leukocyte antigens were tested concomitantly on 12 patients with Hodgkin's disease, 10 with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and seven with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. In 13 control studies, 3H-thymidine incorporation by blood and lymph node lymphocytes was brisk and, overall, comparable. With Hodgkin's disease, where extent of disease involvement and lymphocyte-depleted tumor histology were factors in the degree of responsiveness, incorporation was higher or at least comparable by tumor lymphocytes when compared with incorporation by autologous blood lymphocytes. Lymph node lymphocytes, especially with clinically stable disease, were more responsive than blood lymphocytes with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Conversely, tumor lymphocytes were hyporesponsive compared with autologous blood lymphocytes with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, where prognosis is usually less favorable than with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Plasma from four out of 33 patients, although not lymphocytotoxic, inhibited lymphoproliferative responses.

Inhibition of lymphoproliferation by hyperlipoproteinemic plasma.

“…These disorders include chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (11,17), solid tumors (18,19), primary tumors of lymphoid tissues (20,21), and systemic lupus erythematosus (22).…”

“…Impaired lymphoproliferative responsiveness occurs frequently with various immunodeficiencies (21,(24)(25)(26). Abnormal plasmas with a type IV or V lipoprotein pattern may interfere with other immune responses as well, particularly those that involve lymphocyte proliferation (27).…”

Lymphocyte function in untreated Hodgkin's disease: An important predictor of prognosis

“…Thus, in patients with tumour-engaged spleens an inverse relationship between spleen size and the lymphocyte response to PWM stimulation has been reported . Moreover, mitogen-reactive lymphocytes are also present in the spleen in patients with severe blood-lymphocyte defects (Twomey et al, 1976;Willson et al, 1977). Imbalance in regulation by macrophages or T cells may also contribute (Twomey et al, 1975;Goodwin et al, 1977) but has not been confirmed .…”

Spectrum of immunodeficiencies with Hodgkin's disease.

“…The proliferative response to anti-gens (5,6) and mitogens (3,7), especially at suboptimal mitogen concentrations (8), is often impairedl. Protein synthesis (9), mediator production (10), and cytotoxicity (11) by cultured lymphocytes are often subniormiial.…”