Multiple lymphocyte transformation tests by phytohemagglutinin in healthy individuals: transient episodes of decreased lymphocyte blastogenesis

Oral administration of the methanol extraction residue of BCG (MER/BCG): a phase I study in non-oat cell lung cancer patients

Intradermal, interlesional and intravenous MER/BCG have been reported to possess immunostimulatory properties and combined with chemo-radiotherapy an anti-neoplastic effect. Due to local and systemic side effects of the methanol extraction residue of BCG therapy a new approach to oral administration was investigated. Seventeen patients with inoperable non-oat cell lung cancer were given oral MER for 30 days. Skin tests to 5 recall antigens and various concentrations of MER, lymphocyte stimulation by PHA were done before and repeated during therapy. The initial group of patients received a dose of 1.25 mg per day and when no side effects were detected the dose was gradually escalated in subsequent groups of patients up to 5 mg. Oral MER was well tolerated even at the higher dose with no clinical or laboratory side effects. No regression in tumor size was seen. In 6 of 17 patients the disease remained stationary for a mean of 6 months (Range 6-14 months). In the remainder, disease progressed after a mean of 15 weeks. Two patients had cutaneous PPD reactivity converted from negative to positive, in one it became negative, while the remaining patients maintained their original responsiveness. No major changes could be observed in the in vivo immune tests performed following the course of treatment. In view of the reported relative efficacy of oral BCG administration, and considering the very low toxicity with oral MER, further studies employing considerably higher doses of this nonviable vaccine are now justified.

Variation in mitogen-induced ovine lymphocyte blastogenesis: adherent cells or 2-mercaptoethanol restore randomly depressed responses

Peripheral blood leucocytes (PBL) isolated 23 times over a 6-week period from four normal sheep showed considerable variation in serially tested responses to predetermined optimal concentrations of concanavalin A (Con A), phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), and pokeweed mitogen (PWM). Con A responses, in particular, varied widely and were often randomly depressed (21 of 91 times compared to 15 of 91 times for PHA or PWM). The addition of as few as 1% adherent cells (AC) to depressed cultures fully restored the PBL proliferative response to normal levels. Addition of greater numbers of AC (5 or 10%) had little further enhancing effect on depressed cultures. The addition of 1, 5, or 10% AC to cultures that were responding at normal levels increased responses only slightly. Autologous or allogeneic AC were equally effective. Addition of 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) to depressed cultures only partially restored the blastogenic response to Con A and had little effect on normal cultures.

In vitro evaluation of porcine lymphocyte response to phytohaemagglutinin using a modified "whole blood" technique

The purpose of these investigations was to develop a modified whole blood technique for measuring quantitatively the responsiveness of pig peripheral blood lymphocytes to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) in vitro. Washed blood cells from a fixed volume of blood were suspended in culture medium supplemented with foetal calf serum and stimulated with a pure mitogenic PHA preparation. The stimulation was measured by the incorporation of 3H-thymidine. Data are presented to show the effect of different variables on the culture system. The transformation response was measured at different levels of PHA and the reproducibility of the different responses from repeated investigations was used to evaluate the usefulness of the test. The best reproducibilities of the stimulation response were found at the high PHA concentrations. Also the calculated PHA concentration giving maximum stimulation response had a relatively high reproducibility and indicates that this value is a convenient and reliable alternative measure of the functional capacity of the lymphocytes.

Screening tests for cell-mediated immunodeficiency diseases

As our knowledge of immunology has become more sophisticated we have had to alter our ideas of the etiology of many immune deficiency diseases. Indeed, current concepts now prevalent have led to reclassification of a number of disease entities. In order to keep our diagnostic efforts abreast of the information being generated by the extensive immunology research programs now in progress, the clinical laboratory has been required to offer a new array of sophisticated tests on a relatively routine basis. This article is intended to serve as a brief review of immunobiology and immunodeficiency diseases with an indepth coverage of specialized tests generally available at the large centers. With an understanding of the principles, procedures, and pitfalls of the tests carried out the laboratory scientist is in a better position to assist the clinician in reaching the correct diagnosis. The detailed review is concerned with methods available to separate, classify, and subclassify lymphocytes and thereby allow a categorization of immune deficiency diseases. Toward that end there is a discussion of surface markers, rosetting, mitogenic and antigenic responsiveness as well as lymphokine production. With a view to present day research tests that might eventually find their way into the armamentarium of the clinical laboratory in the future, there is brief discussion of the methods presently used to classify T-cells as helper, suppressor, or effector cells, assays of some of the lymphokines, and measurement of antibody synthesis in cell culture.