concanavalin-a and Colonic-Diseases

Lamina proprial lymphocytes (LPL), isolated by an EDTA-collagenase technique from patients with various colonic diseases, were investigated for LMIF release in vitro. On stimulation with the preparation of Kunin antigen, macrophage-depleted LPL from patients with severely or moderately active ulcerative colitis showed LMIF release which was significantly greater than that observed using LPL from patients with mild colitis or from those with other diseases of the large bowel, including Crohn's disease. Results similar to those obtained with LPL were found with the corresponding peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) stimulated by the preparation of Kunin antigen. In contrast, nonspecific stimulation in vitro with Concanavalin A showed no differences in LMIF releases by the LPL or PBL in the various disease groups. It is suggested that hypersensitivity to Kunin antigen may have pathogenic significance in ulcerative colitis.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Appendicitis; Colitis, Ulcerative; Colonic Diseases; Colonic Neoplasms; Concanavalin A; Crohn Disease; Edetic Acid; Female; Humans; Intestinal Mucosa; Leukocyte Migration-Inhibitory Factors; Lymphocytes; Lymphokines; Male; Microbial Collagenase; Middle Aged; Rectal Neoplasms; Rectal Prolapse

We isolated lymphocytes from the lamina propria of colon from 19 patients with inflammatory bowel disease, colon cancer, and certain benign conditions to determine: (1) if these lymphocytes could mediate mitogen-induced (MICC) and spontaneous cell-mediated cytotoxicity (SCMC), and (2) if there were any differences in cytotoxic effectiveness which could relate to the underlying disease. We found that lamina propria lymphocytes functioned well in MICC reactions with phytohaemagglutinin, but not concanavalin A as the inducing mitogen (specific lysis 28 5% vs 5 3%). Lamina propria lymphocytes did not mediate SCMC (specific lysis 0.3%). Neither the presence of inflammation not the underlying disease of the patient influenced the cytotoxic activity. Peripheral blood lymphocytes from normal subjects and patients performed well in MICC assay with both phytohaemagglutinin and concanvalin A as the inducing mitogen and were equally effective in SCMC reactions.

Topics: Colon; Colonic Diseases; Concanavalin A; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; Humans; Immunity, Cellular; Intestinal Mucosa; Leukocyte Count; Lymphocytes; Mitogens; Phytohemagglutinins; T-Lymphocytes