Disparity of mixed lymphocyte reactivity to cultured cells of human T and B lymphoid lines

Repeated attempts with difference assays and experimental conditions failed to detect significant peripheral blood lymphocyte reactivity in one-way mixed lymphocyte reactions to irradiated or mitomycin C-treated cells of the "leukemic" T lymphoid line RPMI 8402. In contrast, consistently high levels of peripheral blood lymphocyte reactivity were obtained with cells of six B lymphoid lines established from the same blood sample used to initiate this T lymphoid line. Although attempts to define the reason why these cultured T cells did not initiate a mixed lymphocyte reaction were not successful, evidence indicates that this inability may be an intrinsic characteristic common to three other T lymphoid lines (MOLT-4, CCRF-CEM, and CCRF-HSB-2), also established from patients with relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

In vitro transfer of tumour-specific immunity with human 'immune' RNA

In vitro tumour-specific immunity against lung cancer was passively transferred in the leucocyte migration inhibition system with 'immune' RNA in man; 'non-immune' RNA, on the other hand, failed to transfer such immunity, indicating the specificity of 'immune' RNA.

Specific effect of neuraminidase on blastogenic response of sensitized lymphocytes

The blastogenic response of sensitized lymphocytes from guinea-pigs to 'de novo' antigens (KLH, HCH and PPD) was ehhanced by BCN treatment in twenty-one of twenty-three instances. In contrast, no effect of VCN on nonsensitized guinea-pig lymphocyte response to these antigens, or to mumps antigen, was noted in any of thirty-four instances, These findings indicate that the enhancement effect of VCN is specific for sensitized lymphocytes. Heating VCN at 100 degrees for 10 minutes completely abolished the enhancement effect on the lymphocyte response. VCN treatment did not change the kinetics of antigen-induced blastogenesis. The increased lymphocyte response could probably be related to unmasking of the antigen receptor sites of the cells, resulting in increased antigen uptake, following the VCN treatment.

Adoptive transfer of cell-mediated immunity to tuberculin using RNA from tuberculin-sensitive subjects

Adoptive transfer of delayed hypersensitivity skin test response to tuberculin with 'immune' RNA extracted from the sensitized lymphocytes of a healthy subject or a patient with Hodgkin's disease was successfully demonstrated in previously non-sensitive patients with neoplastic diseases including Hodgkin's disease. 'Non-immune' RNA obtained from non-sensitive man, on the other hand, failed to transfer PPD skin reactivity in non-sensitive recipients. 'Immune' RNA-mediated PPD skin test response remained positive for a considerable period of time, indicating that the effect of 'immune' RNA is systemically active. 'Immune' RNA was found to be RNase-sensitive but DNase-resistant. In vitro adoptive transfer of delayed hypersensitivity with 'immune' RNA, as assayed by lymphocyte transformation test, was unsuccessful.

Immunotherapy of prostatic carcinoma with bacillus Calmette-Guerin

Seventeen patients with histologically proven adenocarcinoma of the prostate were selected for evaluation of their immunologic competence and therapy with bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG). All patients were in stage D. The immune response was explored in two main aspects: cell-mediated and humoral immunity. Delayed skin hypersensitivity reaction with purified protein derivative (PPD), streptokinase-streptodornase (varidase), Candida, mumps antigen, and Trichophyton were tested. Lymphocyte reactivity was measured by in vitro blastogenesis. Serum immunoglobulin levels and serum protein electrophoresis were also measured. The patients were then divided in two groups according to the skin test response to PPD. Group 1 (PPD-positive) consisted of seven patients. Group 2 (PPD-negative) consisted of ten patients. In group 1, two patients were treated with intraprostatic injection of BCG every week in the following doses: 1 cc the first week, 2 cc the second week, 4 cc the third week, and 6 cc the fourth week. The five remaining patients in this group received only 1 cc every week for 4 weeks. The group 2 patients (PPD-negative) were stimulated by oral intake of BCG in an attempt to convert their skin tests to positive. All patients revealed varying degrees of immunodepression. None of the patients in group 2 (stimulated by oral intake of BCG) converted to positive skin tests. Three patients in group 1 treated with BCG showed necrosis of the tumor. The different aspects of immunodepression in this disease are analyzed and correlated to the clinical staging, histologic grading, and response to therapy. The mechanism of BCG action in advanced prostatic carcinoma is discussed.

Inhibitory effect of human chorionic gonadotrophin on lymphocyte blastogenic response to mitogen, antigen and allogeneic cells

In vitro inhibitory effect of human chorionic gonadotrophin on human lymphocyte blastogenic response to phytohaemagglutinin, Varidase or allogeneic cells without cytotoxicity is presented. The effect of this hormone is reversible and dose-related. A greater inhibition of lymphocyte response is observed when the cells are pre-incubated with human chorionic gonadotrophin 24 hr before the addition of stimulant. Its inhibitory effect gradually decreases with time when the hormone is added to cultures, 1–3 days after the addition of phytohaemagglutinin. These data support the hypothesis that human chorionic gonadotrophin and possibly other placental hormones might have prevented the maternal lymphocytes from recognizing the foetus as a foreign tissue, resulting in a state of successful pregnancy.

Enhancement of delayed skin hypersensitivity by neuraminidase in cancer patients

Delayed skin hypersensitivity to specific antigen was enhanced when the antigen was given intradermally with Vibrio cholerae neuraminidase in sensitive subjects. No enhancement of skin test response was seen when inactivated enzyme was used. Neuraminidase exhibited no effect on negative skin-test response in non-sensitive recipients and no reaction at the site of this enzyme was observed in any instance, suggesting that the enhancement effect is immunological in nature.

In vitro preferential effect of irradiation on cultured T lymphoid cell line

The present report describes a comparative study of cytocidal effect of irradiation on human cultured T and B lymphoid cells. Cytocidal effect of irradiation was expressed as percentage inhibition or percentage reduction, which was calculated by comparing the [³H]thymidine incorporations or viable cell counts in irradiated and unirradiated cultures, respectively. A higher percentage inhibition was observed in each and every T-cell culture, irradiated with 100–4000 rads at days 1–4 of incubation. The most significant difference of percentage inhibition between T and B cells (P<0·05–P<0·01) was observed at each irradiation dose level at day 3. A significant percentage reduction of viable T cells (98–100%) was noted at 100 rad dose level, whereas only 0–3% of B lymphoid cells were killed by this dose of irradiation at days 2–4 of incubation. Our data clearly indicate that human cultured T lymphoid cells are extremely radiosensitive and B lymphoid cells, on the other hand, are fairly radioresistant.

L-asparaginase and in vitro lymphocyte blastogenesis. Cell membrane alteration as possible mechanism of inhibitory effect

Lymphocytes which were incubated with Erwinia carotovaraL-asparaginase for only 1 hour were found to be markedly non-responsive to soluble antigens and moderately non-responsive to allogeneic cells or phytohaemagglutinin. When lymphocytes were exposed to antigen first, the inhibitory effect of L-asparaginase was markedly diminished, whereas exposure of lymphocytes to the enzyme prior to contact with antigen resulted in almost complete inhibition of blastogenesis. These observations suggest that L-asparaginase acts on the cell membrane causing impairment of antigen or mitogen binding, and that this is responsible for its inhibitory effect.

A unique 'leukaemic' T lymphoid cell line: absence of stimulating effect in mixed lymphocyte reaction. Lack of MLR-S in leukaemic T lymphoid cells

`One-way' mixed lymphocyte reactions between fresh, normal, peripheral blood lymphocytes of human or baboon and irradiated or mitomycin C-treated cultured `leukaemic' T lymphoid cells (MOLT-4) were absent in all of forty-six experiments. In contrast, the lymphocytes from the same donors were significantly stimulated by cultured normal B lymphoid cells (B411-4) or Burkitt's lymphoma B lymphoid cells (B35M) in each instance. Neuraminidase-treated MOLT-4 cells also exerted no stimulating effect on allogeneic lymphocytes. Lack of stimulating effect of MOLT-4 cells suggests the possibility that the MLR-S of leukaemic cells may have been lost or masked during the process of leukaemogenesis or during in vitro cultivation.

'Immune' RNA-mediated transfer of delayed skin reactivity in patients with Hodgkin's disease

Intradermal injection of `immune' RNA extracted from the peripheral blood lymphocytes of sensitive donors unequivocally transferred PPD, Varidase and monilia skin test responses in nine of ten patients with Hodgkin's disease. The transfer of skin reactivity was seen by intradermal injection of `immune' RNA, a few cm from the site of skin test or on the opposite forearm, suggesting that the `immune' RNA is systematically active.

Synergism of stimulating capacity of pooled lymphocytes in the mixed lymphocyte reaction

One-way mixed lymphocyte reactions in cultures of responding cells from a single subject and a pool of stimulating cells from two or more donors exhibited a synergistic response. Increased activity of the responding cells showed a positive correlation with the pool size. Treatment of the responding cells, stimulating cells or both with neuraminidase significantly increased the response.

Enhancement of in vitro lymphocyte response by neuraminidase

In vitro blastogenic response of sensitized human lymphocytes to specific antigens was significantly enhanced by Vibrio cholerae neuraminidase treatment. No such enhancement was noted when the unsensitized lymphocytes were treated with this enzyme. An enhancement effect of neuraminidase on the lymphocyte response to concanavalin A or pokeweed mitogen (weak mitogens) was also noted; the enzyme had no effect on phytohaemagglutinin (strong mitogen)-induced blasto-genesis. The increased reactivity of lymphocytes is probably related to changed physical and functional properties of the cells after treatment with neuraminidase.

'Antigenic' disparity between leukaemic lymphoblasts and normal lymphocytes in identical twins

Circulating lymphocytes of a normal boy were unequivocally stimulated by irradiated leukaemic lymphoblasts from his identical twin with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. This reaction indicates that there is an `antigenic' disparity between these two types of cells. It is possible that leukaemic cells may acquire new surface antigens or that existing surface antigens of lymphoid cells may be modified during the process of leukaemogenesis.

Blastogenic response of normal lymphocytes to cultured lymphoid cells and non-lymphoid neoplastic cells

Irradiated cultured lymphoid cells (normal and leukaemic) unequivocally stimulated the peripheral lymphocytes from twelve normal individuals. However, irradiated cultured non-lymphoid neoplastic cells (KB cells, melanoma cells and osteogenic sarcoma cells) exerted little or no stimulating effect on lymphocytes of the same donors. These findings indicate that something more than a simple HL-A incompatability is involved in this mixed cell interaction.

Simplified whole blood method for evaluating in vitro lymphocyte reactivity of laboratory animals

A whole blood culture technique has been employed to quantitatively evaluate lymphocyte reactivity of small laboratory animals including mice, rats, guinea-pigs and rabbits. This simplified method has been used to study the blastogenic response to phytohaemagglutinin, concanavalin A, pokeweed mitogen and staphy-lococcal filtrate. Tuberculin-induced lymphocyte transformation responses have been studied in serial experiments using sensitized animals. The results of this preliminary study demonstrate that the whole blood method has numerous advantages over the conventional techniques employing leucocyte concentrates. In almost all instances the degree of lymphocyte reactivity as measured by ³H-thymidine incorporation closely approximated or exceeded previously reported results using the standard culture method.