A Role of Brain in Cell-mediated Immunity and Non-specific Immunotherapy of Brain Tumors

Abstract

A role of brain in cell-mediated immunity and non-specific immunotherapy for brain tumor patients were studied, not only experimentally but also clinically, employing stereotaxic operation and intravenous injection of heparinoid extracted from tragacanth gum (TGDS). The following interesting results were obtained:
1. Destruction of the striatum in rabbits leads to hypofunction of the reticuloendothelial system (RES) and lymphopenia in the peripheral blood.
2. Unilateral thalamotomy for involantary movement or thalamic pain caused lymphopenia, mainly of T-cell, as well as decrease of IgE globulin in the peripheral blood of the patients.
3. In the tumor bearing host with severe disturbance of consciousness lymphopenia in the peripheral blood or suppressed function of cell-mediated immunity occured frequently. This phenomenon is considered to be the result of dysfunction of brain stem, including basal nuclei.
4. The effectiveness of heparinoid (TGDS) was proved clinically, and tuberculin (PPD) skin test turned positive in patients with marked dysfunction of RES and negative PPD reaction after TGDS administration and transfusion of fresh blood from TGDS administered donors.