FUNDAMENTAL STUDY ON THE POTENTIATING ROLE OF MONOCYTES IN THE MITOGENIC RESPONSE OF T CELLS AND ITS APPLICATION TO CANCER PATIENTS

Abstract

Fundamental studies on the effect of monocytes on mitogen induced T cell blastogenesis were carried out and its applicability for evaluating the monocyte function in cancer patients was examined. The response of T cells to PHA, Con A, and PPD was dependent on monocytes in that order. The response of T cells to a suboptimal dose (3μg/ml) was more dependent on monocytes than that to an optimal dose (15μg/ml). Allogeneic monocytes were as effective as autologous monocytes in potentiating T cell response to PHA. Co-culture experiments suggested that the monocyte function of potentiating T cell response to a suboptimal dose of PHA decreased in patients with gastric cancer.