Mariko Kaku

Superoxide anion generation by polymorphonuclear leukocytes enhanced in a patient with colony-stimulating activity-producing lung cancer

We examined superoxide (O-2)-generating activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) from a patient with lung cancer in whom there was a marked granulocytosis. There was a high level of colony-stimulating activity (CSA) in both the serum and the supernatant of the culture of the primary tumor. The PMN from the patient produced almost three times more O-2 than did the PMN from healthy donors and other patients with lung cancers but with no granulocytosis. The binding of wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), used as a stimulus for O-2 generation, to the surface membrane of cells and the protein content in the cells were about double that noted in the case of healthy donors. Following total extirpation of the tumor, the level of CSA in the serum decreased, as did activity of PMN for O-2 generation, and the binding of WGA to the cells reverted to normal levels.

Superoxide (O2-) assay monocyte adherence test for the detection of cell-mediated immunity in cancer patients.

The reactivity of mononuclear cells from patients with breast cancer to the 3 M KCl extract of breast tumor was tested using the superoxide (O2-) assay monocyte adherence test. The mononuclear cells were incubated with the 3 M KCl extract of breast tumor or normal breast tissues in a microcell for spectrophotometer analysis. After 2 h incubation, the nonadherent cells were removed, and the O2- generated from the monocytes adherent to the intersurface of the microcell was assayed. Thirty of 36 patients with breast cancer before treatment reacted to the extract of breast tumor. Sixteen patients showed adherence inhibition and 14 adherence stimulation. None of 8 patients with breast cancer reacted to the extract of lung tumor. Of 31 control donors (19 healthy volunteers and 12 patients with cancer of other organs), only 3 reacted to the extract of breast tumor.

Stimulation of O-2-release from phagocytes by bacterial cell-wall components

Muramyl dipeptide (MDP) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from E. coli were tested for their ability to influence superoxide anion (O-2) release from phagocytes of guinea pigs. Both MDP and LPS alone did not, by themselves stimulate macrophages and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) to release O-2. However, the preincubation of macrophages with MDP or LPS primed the macrophages to release the enhanced amount of O-2 when stimulated by cytochalasin E (Cyt E) and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) . When PMN were treated in the same way, only LPS showed an enhancing effect. MDP enhanced NADPH oxidase activity of macrophages, which is probably the reason for the enhanced O-2 release by MDP.