concanavalin-a and Paraproteinemias

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with essential mixed cryoglobulinemia were investigated for the ability to induce suppressor cell activity (S.C.A.) following in vitro exposure to Concanavalin A (Con A). The generation of Con A-S.C.A. is significantly impaired in essential mixed cryoglobulinemia compared to the healthy controls. No correlation was found between Con A-S.C.A. and the clinical or laboratory parameters of the disease. This impaired ability to induce Con A-S.C.A. in essential mixed cryoglobulinemia reflects a functional T-cell defect, which may play a role in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Topics: Adult; Concanavalin A; Cryoglobulinemia; Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; Female; Humans; Lymphocyte Activation; Male; Middle Aged; Paraproteinemias; T-Lymphocytes; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory

Pentameric IgM is precipitable by PHA whereas monomeric IgM is not. During electrophoresis in PHA-containing agar gel pentameric IgM is selected by precipitation from concomitant monomeric IgM which may be visualized separately as a precipitation line with specific antibody. This antibody-like use of the lectin in PHA selection electrophoresis provides a quick and simple method of screening macroglobulinemic sera and other biological fluids for the presence of naturally occurring monomeric IgM subunits.

Topics: Absorption; Animals; Binding Sites; Concanavalin A; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; Goats; Humans; Immunoelectrophoresis; Immunoglobulin M; Paraproteinemias; Phytohemagglutinins; Polymers; Precipitins; Rabbits; Ricin; Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from untreated patients with essential cryoglobulinaemia were studied for their surface markers and for their in vitro mitogenic reactivity. No differences in lymphocyte subpopulations were observed between cryoglobulinaemic patients and normal controls. Cultures of separated lymphocytes were stimulated with different concentrations of phytohaemagglutinin, Con-A and pokeweed mitogen. Incorporation of [3H]-thymidine in patients' cultures was compared with that of normal controls. Significantly decreased reactivity to phytohaemagglutinin and Con-A, but not to pokeweed mitogen, was found in all patients studied. The depressed mitogenic reactivity to phytohaemagglutinin and Con-A might be referred to a qualitative T cell defect.

Topics: Adult; Binding Sites; Complement System Proteins; Concanavalin A; Cryoglobulins; Female; Humans; Leukocyte Count; Lymphocyte Activation; Male; Middle Aged; Paraproteinemias; Phytohemagglutinins; Pokeweed Mitogens; Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell; T-Lymphocytes

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from 32 patients with defined paraproteinaemia (16 IgG, 9 IgA and 7 IgM) and from 15 healthy donors were studied for their in vitro response to various stimuli, including for unspecific mitogens such as Phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), Pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and Concanavalin A (ConA) as well as specific antigens such as purified Tuberculin, Candida, Varidase, Tetanus Toxoid, Vaccinia antigen and Vaccinia-control antigen. Mitogens and antigens were lyophilized in Microtiter plates. The lymphocytes of all tested patient-groups responded (measured by H3-Thymidin-uptake) significantly lower towards the unspecific mitogens than those of the control group. If the patients' lymphocytes were stimulated by the specific antigens, their in vitro response was significantly diminished to candida and vaccinia. Macroglobulinaemia showed significantly lower response to ConA if compared to myelomas of IgG- and IgA-type. No correlation was found between mitogen and antigen response and the serum concentration of the paraproteins or immunoglobulins. The results show that monoclonal gammopathy and especially macroglobulinaemia are associated with abnormalities of the cellular immunity which correlates with the clinical observation of increased fungal and viral infections.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Candida; Concanavalin A; Female; Humans; Lectins; Lymphocyte Activation; Male; Middle Aged; Mitogens; Paraproteinemias; Streptodornase and Streptokinase; Tetanus Toxoid; Tuberculin; Vaccinia virus