thymic-factor--circulating and Hodgkin-Disease

The paper deals with the evaluation of immunologic vigor in 57 cases of pediatric Hodgkin's disease. The study used the standard test of spontaneous rosette formation of lymphocytes of peripheral blood and lymph nodes with sheep erythrocytes and some modifications of the said procedure. Patients with Hodgkin's disease and healthy subjects revealed similar levels of main subpopulations of circulating T-lymphocytes. This was matched by a shift in the ratio of T-cell subpopulations toward predominant theophylline-resistant ones (T-helpers) in the lymph nodes of patients with Hodgkin's disease.

Topics: Child; Child, Preschool; Hodgkin Disease; Humans; Leukocyte Count; Lymph Nodes; Rosette Formation; T-Lymphocytes; Theophylline; Thymus Hormones

Patients with Hodgkin's disease manifest decreased percentage of E rosette-forming (T) lymphocytes in the peripheral blood. We have investigated thymosine-like factor in peripheral blood lymphocytes in these patients by immunofluorescence method. Some of lymphocytes showed the excess of thymosine-like factor. The addition of antiserum to thymus factor increased percentage of E rosette-forming (T) lymphocytes in the peripheral blood in Hodgkin's disease.

Topics: Antibodies; Erythrocytes; Hodgkin Disease; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Rosette Formation; T-Lymphocytes; Thymic Factor, Circulating; Thymus Hormones

An examination of 16 children suffering from malignancies established marked chemotherapy--induced suppression of endocrine function of the thymus. These findings were in correlation with variations in peripheral blood lymphocytes level in spontaneous rosette-formation test with ovine red blood cells and autoerythrocytes. The levels of E- and A-rosette-forming cells returned to normal following in vitro incubation of peripheral blood lymphocytes with thymostimuline. It is suggested that immunocorrection by means of thymal hormones should be carried out in the course of chemotherapy.

Topics: Adolescent; Cell Membrane; Child; Cyclophosphamide; Depression, Chemical; Hodgkin Disease; Humans; Lymphocytes; Lymphoma; Rosette Formation; Thymic Factor, Circulating; Thymus Gland; Time Factors; Vinblastine

The percent of E-rosette forming cells in the peripheral blood of 60 patients with Hodgkin's disease was significantly lower than in control subjects: 46.4 +/- 12.3 vs. 62. 4 +/- 12.5. Preincubation of the mononuclear cells with levamisole, thymic humoral factor (THF) or indomethacin restored E-rosette formation to normal levels. When monocytes were removed from the mononuclear cell preparations prior to incubation, levamisole and THF retained their activity, whereas indomethacin was inactive. These results suggest a direct effect of levamisole and THF on lymphocytes in Hodgkin's disease, whereas indomethacin requires the mediation of monocytes, similarly to its reported effects on other cellular immune responses in Hodgkin's disease.

Topics: Hodgkin Disease; Humans; Indomethacin; Levamisole; Lymphocytes; Monocytes; Rosette Formation; Thymic Factor, Circulating; Thymus Hormones