concanavalin-a and Pharyngeal-Neoplasms

The in vitro responsiveness of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) T lymphocytes was studied in 81 patients with limited or extended head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), as judged by T, N and T + N stages. Patients included in the study were males below 80 years of age, without auto-immune disease or cachexia, who were not taking any immuno-active medication at the time of diagnosis. The patients were divided into groups according to TNM stage T0-2 vs T3-4, N0-1 vs N2-3 or T + N0-3 vs T + N4-7. When cells from patients with early and late stage, according to T, N or T + N stage, were compared, we found a decreased level of mitogen stimulated T-cells and decreased spontaneous proliferation with increasing disease stage. The same was true if the in vitro mitogenesis of T-cells was analysed separately, depending on the laryngeal or oral cavity/pharyngeal origin of the patients' tumours. If the patients were divided into two groups based on N stage, decreased gamma-interferon, and to some extent interleukin (IL-2), but not IL-4 levels, were found to be related to the disease stage.

Topics: Aged; Analysis of Variance; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Cell Division; Concanavalin A; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Humans; Interferon-gamma; Interleukin-2; Interleukin-4; Laryngeal Neoplasms; Lymphocyte Activation; Male; Mitogens; Mouth Neoplasms; Multivariate Analysis; Neoplasm Staging; Pharyngeal Neoplasms; T-Lymphocytes

A xenogeneic human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) model in immunocompetent mice was evaluated for its requirement of cyclosporine for progressive tumor growth. Tumor growth and T cell functions were assessed in mice receiving cyclosporine treatment for various lengths of time. Tumor cells were injected s.c. on day 1 and cyclosporine was injected i.p. daily on days 1, 1-7, 1-14, 1-21, or for the entire 28 days of tumor growth. All mice developed tumors. These tumors were confirmed to be squamous carcinomas of human origin histologically and by positive staining for human MHC class I antigen expression. Tumors were largest in mice that received cyclosporine for days 1-21 or days 1-28. Increased tumor size was associated with increased serum levels of tumor-reactive antibodies, an increased intratumoral frequency of CD4+ and CD8+ cells, but a diminished production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) by the tumor infiltrate. Also correlating with increasing tumor size was splenomegaly, a decline in the frequency, but not the absolute levels, of splenic CD4+ and CD8+ cells, and a diminished capacity to proliferate in response to concanavalin A and to be stimulated to secrete IL-2. The HNSCC tumors contributed to the immune decline since T cell functions were more depressed in the tumor bearers than in control mice receiving only cyclosporine treatment. These results demonstrate that human HNSCC tumor xenografts can grow in mice even with limited cyclosporine treatment, and that the survival of these xenografts may, in part, be due to a tumor-induced decline in select T cell functions.

Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Neoplasm; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Concanavalin A; Culture Media, Conditioned; Cyclosporine; Female; Graft Survival; Immunocompromised Host; Interleukin-2; Lymphocyte Activation; Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Neoplasm Transplantation; Pharyngeal Neoplasms; Splenomegaly; Transplantation, Heterologous

In this study, earlier observations concerning the independence of both natural (NCMC) and lectin-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (LDCC) from DNA synthesis have been confirmed. In addition, blocking of RNA synthesis by actinomycin D and of protein synthesis, reversibly by puromycin (PM) and irreversibly by emetine (EM) had different effects on NCMC and LDCC against 3H-thymidine-prelabeled HEp-2 target cells. Similarly to the Con A-induced proliferation of lymphocytes, LDCC activity was also inhibited by blocking of RNA and protein synthesis. NCMC to HEp-2 target cells was not affected by blocking of RNA synthesis, while both PM and EM strongly enhanced NCMC activity.

Topics: Cell Adhesion; Cell Division; Cell Line; Cell Survival; Concanavalin A; Dactinomycin; Emetine; Humans; Immunity, Cellular; Lectins; Mitomycin; Mitomycins; Pharyngeal Neoplasms; Protein Biosynthesis; Puromycin; RNA

The effect of histamine (H) and H1-, H2-receptor blocking agents was studied on natural (NCMC) and lectin-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (LDCC) of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from eight healthy subjects on HEP-2 adherent human epipharynx carcinoma target cells. Cytotoxicity was measured by detachment from the monolayer of 3H-TdR-prelabelled HEp-2 cells. LDCC was evaluated in a 24 h assay with a Concanavalin A (Con A) dose of 25 micrograms/ml at 50:1 effector-target cell ratio. Under these conditions, but without Con A, considerable NCMC was not elicited by normal lymphocytes. The presence of histamine and the H2-receptor blocker cimetidine resulted in a significant NCMC to HEp-2 cells. On the contrary, histamine and cimetidine reduced LDCC. The H1-receptor blocker clemastine had no significant effect on either NCMC or LDCC to HEp-2 targets. The possible involvement of H2-receptor bearing cells in the regulation of cytotoxicity to HEp-2 cells is suggested.

Topics: Cell Adhesion; Cell Line; Cimetidine; Clemastine; Concanavalin A; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; Histamine; Histamine Antagonists; Humans; Immunity, Innate; In Vitro Techniques; Lymphocytes; Pharyngeal Neoplasms

The effect of Fc receptor (FcR) blocking by aggregated human gamma-globulin (AGG) was studied on natural (NCMC) and lectin-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (LDCC) against adherent HEp-2 human epipharynx carcinoma target cells. Cytotoxicity was measured by detachment from the monolayer of [3H]TdR-prelabelled HEp-2 cells. LDCC was evaluated in a 24 h assay at 50:1 effector-target cell ratio in the presence of 25 micrograms/ml concanavalin A (Con A). Under these conditions but without Con A considerable NCMC was not elicited by normal lymphocytes. FcR blocking by AGG treatment of effector cells resulted in a significant NCMC activity to HEp-2 targets. In contrast, AGG treatment profoundly depressed LDCC. Monocyte depletion of effector cells had no major influence on the effect of AGG on NCMC and LDCC activities. An interference of FcR blocking by AGG and LDCC in response to Con A is suggested.

Topics: Cell Line; Concanavalin A; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; gamma-Globulins; Humans; Monocytes; Pharyngeal Neoplasms; Receptors, Fc

Con A-induced cytotoxic activity of human lymphocyte subpopulations obtained by cell fractionation procedures was studied in a test system using human epipharynx carcinoma cells (HEp 2) as targets. Only T lymphocytes were cytotoxic, non-T cells exerted no cytotoxic activity, but enhanced the adherence of the tumour cells. Tnon-G lymphocytes (Fc-receptor negative T cells) were more active than TG cells (Fc-receptor-positive T cells) in mediating the Con A-induced cytotoxic reaction.

Topics: Cell Line; Concanavalin A; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; Humans; Lymphocyte Activation; Pharyngeal Neoplasms; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic

Natural cell-mediated cytotoxicity /NCMC/ was evaluated using human adherent 3H-thymidine-prelabelled HEp-2 epipharynx carcinoma cells as targets at 50:1 effector-target cell ratio in a 24 hr assay. For lectin-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity /LDCC/ studies cultures contained also 25/micrograms/ml concanavalin A /Con A/. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells /PBMC/ of nine patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus /SLE/ failed to exert NCMC or LDCC against HEp-2 targets. In contrast, an increased adherence /decreased detachment from the monolayer/ of HEp-2 target cells was observed in the presence of PBMC from SLE patients that was further promoted by the addition of Con A during LDCC assay.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Cell Adhesion; Cell Line; Cell Survival; Concanavalin A; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; Female; Humans; Immunity, Cellular; Killer Cells, Natural; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Middle Aged; Pharyngeal Neoplasms

Blocking factors are small polypeptide molecules that may appear in the serum of patients with cancer. These factors block the transformation of lymphocytes in culture to nonspecific mitogens such as phytohemagglutinin or concanavalin A and, therefore, may reflect changes in the immunocompetence of the patient. Blocking factors were monitored during the clinical course of thirty-five patients with cancer. These factors did not develop in patients with response to therapy whereas they did develop in patients without response. A third group of patients without response to therapy after a previous remission showed an absence of lymphocyte responsiveness in culture that was not due to blocking factors, suggesting that immune clone consumption had occurred. Dermal responsiveness to tumor antigen correlated with a favorable clinical course and was usually absent when serum blocking factors were present.

Topics: Antibody Formation; Antigens, Neoplasm; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Concanavalin A; Humans; Immunotherapy; Lectins; Leiomyosarcoma; Lymphocyte Activation; Lymphocytes; Melanoma; Neoplasms; Osteosarcoma; Peptides; Pharyngeal Neoplasms; Rhabdomyosarcoma; Skin Tests