Björn Petrini

Lymphocyte and granulocyte reactions during sleep deprivation.

&NA; The possible influence of 48 hr of sleep deprivation on in vitro DNA synthesis of blood lymphocytes and on the adhesiveness and intracellular, stainable activity of alkaline phosphatase in blood granulocytes was studied in twelve young male volunteers. Following the sleep deprivation, all 12 subjects showed marked reductions of DNA synthesis after stimulation with phytohemagglutinin. Pre‐exposure levels were regained 5 days after terminating the vigil. No changes were noted in granulocyte adherence or alkaline phosphatase activity. The results suggest that sleep deprivation may decrease cell‐mediated immune reactions and thereby impair some aspects of host defense.

Antibody against Encephalitozoon cuniculi in Swedish homosexual men.

Sera of 30 Swedish homosexual men belonging to the group at risk for the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) were examined for antibodies against various opportunistic parasites. Antibodies to Encephalitozoon cuniculi were found in 33%, to Pneumocystis carinii in 43%, and to Toxoplasma gondii in 37%. The results indicate that E. cuniculi might be transmitted among homosexual men.

Immunologic monitoring in breast cancer patients receiving postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy.

A group of 17 patients, having undergone modified radical mastectomy for breast cancer, received 12 cycles of chemotheray with methotrexate, 5‐fluorouracil, and chlorambucil during 17 months. The number of circulating T and non T lymphocytes, as defined by E, EAC, and ME rosette formation, were reduced during treatment. The Non‐T lymphocytes, however, were reduced to the highest relative extent. Relative phytohemagglutinin and mixed lymphocyte culture responses of the cells decreased, whereas purified protein derivative responses were unchanged. Serum concentrations of IgM were reduced, but IgA and IgG concentrations were unchanged or slightly increased. Antibody titres to morbilli and herpes simplex were not changed, whereas the antibody activity against cytomegalovirus (CMV) increased in several seropositive patients. None of these patients, however, developed signs of a CMV infection.

Blood lymphocytes in breast cancer patients following radiotherapy and surgery

Abstract Peripheral blood lymphocytes from 110 subjects with primary carcinoma of the breast were studied before and at various times after local radiotherapy and/or surgery. The results demonstrated that the recovery of the relative PPD (purified protein derivative) responses of the lymphocytes after radiotherapy progresses more rapidly than the repopulation of the total lymphocyte population.

Evidence for the appearance of non-specific suppressor cells in the blood after local radiation therapy.

Radiation therapy for carcinoma of the breast may induce lymphopenia and a reduction of the purified protein derivative (PPD) tuberculin reactivity of the lymphocytes in vitro as measured on a cell-for-cell basis. In the present investigation we have examined whether the reduced PPD-reactivity after irradiation can be explained by the appearance of non-specific suppressor cells. The results confirm that the reactivity of non-purified lymphoid cell preparations decreases significantly after radiotherapy. This reduction was not correlated to the extent of radiation induced lymphopenia. In contrast, lymphoid cell preparations depleted of adherent cells do not exhibit any significant decrease, indicating that monocytes-macrophages may become non-specifically immunosuppressive after local radiotherapy.

Reductions of responder and stimulator capacities of peripheral lymphoid cells in the mixed lymphocyte culture following external radiotherapy.

The peripheral lymphoid cells of patients with primary cancers of the breast, urinary bladder or prostate were examined, before and after radiotherapy, for capacity to respond and stimulate in the mixed lymphocyte culture using lymphoid cells from healthy donors as allogeneic cells. Radiotherapy reduced both the responder and stimulator capacities of the peripheral lymphoid cells to approximately the same extent in the same individual. These reductions were not correlated to the extent of radiation induced lymphopenia. The results suggest a general defect of the peripheral lymphoid cell population after radiotherapy.

T lymphocyte subpopulations in blood following radiation therapy for breast cancer

T helper and T suppressor lymphocyte subpopulations were examined before and after postoperative adjuvant radiation therapy for breast cancer. Absolute numbers of all T cell subsets were reduced by 70-80%. The proportion of IgG-Fc receptor-bearing T cells (Tg cells) was significantly reduced and that of IgM-Fc receptor-bearing T cells (Tm cells) significantly increased at completion of local radiation therapy with 45 Gy (4500 rad). Proportions of T suppressor (Ts) and T helper (Th) cells determined by monoclonal antibodies were not changed by radiation therapy. The overlapping between Tg and Ts subpopulations was 20-30% as examined by double labelling.

Influence of adjuvant tamoxifen on blood lymphocytes

SummaryThe blood lymphocyte population was studied in 23 breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant tamoxifen for 1.5–2 years, and in an equal number of control patients. The size and cellular composition of the blood lymphocyte population, as assessed by monoclonal antibodies directed against various subsets, did not differ between the two patient groups. However, lymphocytes from the tamoxifen-treated patients exhibited a significantly lower NK activity against K562 cells. In contrast, the proliferative response of lymphocytes to ConA was significantly higher. These results indicate that tamoxifen may modulate the immune system.

Changes of the peripheral lymphocyte population following radiation therapy to extended and limited fields

Abstract The peripheral lymphoid cell populations were examined in 2 groups of breast cancer patients. One group had been treated by wedge excision of the tumor and received postoperatively 5000 rad in 5 weeks through tangential fields encompassing the breast only (limited field treatment). The other group consisted of patients who had been treated by modified radical mastectomy; postoperatively, they received 4500 rad in 5 weeks to the internal mammary, supraclavicular and axillary lymph node regions and the chest wall (extended field treatment). Patients receiving extended field treatment developed the most pronounced lymphopenia. In both groups of patients 2 subpopulations of non- T -lymphocytes, cells possessing receptors for C ′3 and cells binding mouse erythrocytes, were depleted to a higher extent than T-cells. The first mentioned populations, however, repopulated faster than the latter. The response of the cells in the mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) was reduced to the same extent in both groups and correlative studies could not establish any relation between the extent of radiation induced lymphopenia and reduction of MLC responsiveness. Relative phytohemagglutin (PJA) responses, however, were reduced to a higher extent in patients receiving extended field treatment. The results support the concept that radiation induced impairment of antigen reactivity cannot entirely be explained by decreased lymphocyte counts but also by the triggering of immunosuppressive mechanisms such as activation of inhibitor cells.

Changes in mixed lymphocyte culture (mlc) functions of peripheral lymphoid cells after radiation therapy for breast carcinoma

Abstract Peripheral lymphoid cells of patients with breast cancer were tested for their capacity to function as andstimulators in mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC before and after local radir local radiation therapy. Both of these MLC functions were decreased after therapy and returned to pretreatment levels within 3–4 months. Both the responder and stimulator capacities of the cell preparations obtained at completion of radiation therapy were increased by depleting phagocytic cells. These results are consistent with the view that immunosuppression observed shortly after radiation therapy results partly from the appearance of non-specific suppressor cells with monocyte characteristics.