1983 Volume 35 Issue 1 Pages 101-115
In the second of these three serial studies the effects of therapeutic Co60 irradiation on the lymphocytes were examined with special refrence to their reactivity against mitogens and antilymphocyte antibody to yield the following results:
1) Total lymphocyte counts in the peripheral blood and the absolute T cell number decreased after irradiation, although no changes were found in T cell percentage.
2) In order to evaluate immune response in uterine cancer patients undergoing therapeutic irradiation, in vitro lymphocyte transformation tests using PHA, Con A, PWM and PPD, as well as mensuration of IgG, IGA, IgM, C3, and C4, were carried out on the blood obtaine d from each patient before and during therapy: During irradiation, the lymphocyte trans for-ma tion values against PHA and Con A were depressed, but no significant changes were found in the values of IgG, IgA, and IgM. In some patients, however, the IgG, IgM, C3 an d C4 values were slightly increased after irradiation.
3) Using sera with high anti-lymphocyte antibody titers obtained from SLE patients, a cytotoxicity test against normal lymphocytes and lymphocytes from Co60 -treated patients was carried out: In approptiate seral dilution, less cytotoxicity was found in lymphocytes obtai ned from Co60 treated patients than in those obtained from normal patients lymphocytes, i.e. lymphocytes from Co60 treated patents were found to be more resistant to the cytotoxic sera than normal lymphocytes.
