Immunocompetent cells in patients with malignant disease. I. The lack of naturally occurring killer cell activity in the unfractionated circulating lymphocytes from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)

The unfractionated, buffy coat cells of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) were compared with their counterpart cells from normal volunteers for the capacity to lyse chromium-labeled xenogeneic target cells in vitro. Whereas killer cells were consistently detected in the circulation of normal individuals, no significant numbers of killer cells could be detected in the circulation of CLL patients. It is concluded that either these cells are not present in the circulation of CLL patients or that they are present in small numbers undetectable by this procedure. The possibility that killer cells in CLL patients are diluted by the much larger number of immunoincompetent cells has been ruled out.

The in vivo effect of colchicine on the addition of galactose and sialic acid to rat hepatic serum glycoproteins

Colchicine inhibits the secretion of plasma protein by rat hepatocytes and causes their intracellular accumulation in Golgi-derived secretory vesicles. This study examines whether colchicine affects secretion before or after galactose and sialic acid have been added to the secretory glycoproteins. D-[G-3H] Galactose was injected into rats and was found to be incorporated into serum glycoproteins contained within Golgi-derived secretory vesicles. The administration of colchicine (25 mumol/100 g, body weight), immediately before the injection of D-[G-3H] galactose, caused an increase in radioactivity of the serum glycoproteins in these cell fractions. D-[G-3H] Glucosamine was incorporated into serum glycoproteins contained within the rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi cell fractions; however, its incorporation into the sialic acid moieties of these proteins only occurred in Golgi-derived cell fractions. Colchicine administration resulted in an increased incorporation of D-[G-3H] glucosamine into the sialic acid residues of serum glycoproteins contained within the Golgi cell fractions. These data indicate that colchicine inhibits secretion of serum proteins by rat liver after the addition of galactose and sialic acid to the secretory proteins has taken place.

Colchicine inhibition of plasma protein release from rat hepatocytes

Colchicine, both in vitro and in vivo, inhibits secretion of albumin and other plasma proteins. In vitro, secretion by rat liver slices is inhibited at 10-minus 6 M with maximal effect at 10-minus 5 M. Inhibition of secretion is accompanied by a concomitant retention of nonsecreted proteins within the slices. Colchicine does not inhibit protein synthesis at these concentrations. Vinblastine also inhibits plasma protein secretion but lumicolchicine, griseofulvin, and cytochalasin B do not. Colchicine also acts in vivo at 10-25 mumol/100 g body weight. Inhibition of secretion is not due to changes in the intracellular nucleotide phosphate levels. Colchicine, administered intravenously, acts within 2 min and its inhibitory effect lasts for at least 3 h. Colchicine has no effect on transport of secretory proteins in the rough or smooth endoplasmic reticulum but it causes these proteins to accumulate in Golgi-derived secretory vesicles.

Immunotherapy of melanoma with BCG: two fatalities following intralesional injection

Two fatalities are reported following intralesional injection of BCG for immunotherapy of malignant melanoma. In both cases the terminal events were characterized by high fevers, major clotting defects, hypotension, and anuria, suggesting that the mechanism was hypersensitivity to BCG.