1982 Volume 5 Issue 4 Pages 293-300
It is assumed that natural killer (NK) activity plays a significant role in immune surveillance mechanisms against cancer. In this regard, the present report describes experiments designed to investigate NK activity in cancer patients. Serum factor (s) involved in the modulation of NK mechanisms were also attempted to be determined.
Two groups were chosen for examination, i.e., a cancer patient group and a normal control group. NK activity was examined in patients with various untreated cancers. Comparison of the cancer patient group with normal controls revealed significant differences, with the patient group having lower NK activity.
Sera from cancer patients revealed suppression of NK activity in vitro. The active moiety was present in a high molecular weight fraction which eluted in the void volume of a Sephadex G-200 column. This fraction obtained from the sera of the cancer patients was active at concentration of 1.2 mg/ml, while the fraction prepared as control from normal sera showed no suppression. This fraction was further analysed by DEAE-sephacel chromatography from which suppressive factor (s) were separated.
It was concluded from the findings of PAGE and immunoelectrophoresis that α2-macroglobulin is a suppressive factor on NK activity in cancer patients.
