ABSTRACT
Cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific immune responses and the general cellular immune status of 24 untreated patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD) and 22 with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) were evaluated in comparison with matched controls. The incidence of antibodies against CMV-induced early (EA) or late (LA) antigens was not different between patients and controls. LA antibody titres were markedly lower in the lymphoma patients (p = 0.01), especially in the NHL subgroup (p = 0.008), but not in HD patients. EA antibody titre levels were not significantly different between patients and controls. CMV-specific lymphocyte reactivity (LR) was impaired in LA seropositive--and even more so in EA seropositive--lymphoma patients. General cellular immunity tested with LR to mitogens and an antigen cocktail was more disturbed in HD patients (only PWM-LR normal) than in NHL patients (only Con A-LR disturbed). The percentage of circulating T lymphocytes was markedly lowered (less than 60%) in only 2 HD and 4 NHL patients. The impairment of CMV-LR was not directly related to the general cellular immune status of the patients. It appeared furthermore to be virus-specific when it was compared with LR to Epstein-Barr virus antigen. The impairment of CMV-specific immunity in lymphoma patients probably reflects a defect of the immunological defence against endogenous CMV. This defect apparently, occurs early in the course of illness before the general cellular immune status has deteriorated and it may have a pathogenetic significance for lymphoid malignancies.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Viral/analysis , Cytomegalovirus/immunology , Hodgkin Disease/immunology , Immunity, Cellular , Lymphoma/immunology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Child , Female , Herpesvirus 4, Human/immunology , Humans , Leukocyte Count , Lymphocyte Activation , Male , Middle Aged , T-Lymphocytes/immunologyABSTRACT
A cytomegalovirus (CMV) induced lymphocyte tranformation test (LTT) performed as a microtechnique assay is described. Investigations were done in a group of twenty-five healthy adults with normal lymphocyte reactivity to phytohaemagglutinin and previously encountered antigens. Lymphocyte reactivity was established in CMV-seropositive persons using heat-inactivated cell-free CMV strain AD 169 in an optimal stimulating dose of 10(1-5) TCID 50. Positive CMV-LTT results were shown to be induced by purified inactivated CMV. Most persons (twelve out of seventeen) with antibodies against CMV-induced late or virus-structure antigens (LA) showed positive (stimulation index greater than 2-0) CMV-LTT results. Magnitude of CMV-LTT responses was positively related to the CMV-LA Ab titres (P less than 0-01). All persons (six) with antibodies against CMV early or non-structural antigens showed positive CMV-LTT results and highest stimulation rates were found in this group. Generally CMV-seronegative persons were non-responsive. Only in one case (LA Ab titre 10) a borderline positive response (stimulation index 2-3) was seen. The CMV-LTT was shown to have virus-specific properties because it was not related to simultaneously performed LTTs with Epstein-Barr virus and Herpes simplex virus in the same persons. It is concluded that CMV-LTTs are useful virus-specific in vitro techniques for the study of CMV-directed lymphocyte reactivity. Its possible relationship to other cell-mediated immunity tests and its practical applications are discussed.
Subject(s)
Cytomegalovirus/immunology , Lymphocytes/immunology , Adult , Antibodies, Viral , Antigens, Viral , Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic , Epitopes , Female , Humans , Lymphocyte Activation , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
The case is presented of a patient, treated for Hodgkin's disease, who contracted infectious mononucleosis more than 3 years later. While Epstein-Barr virus has been considered a possible etiologic factor in Hodgkin's disease, the sequence of events reported in this case has to be interpreted as evidence against a causal relationship between the virus and Hodgkin's disease in this patient.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Antibodies, Viral , Herpesvirus 4, Human/immunology , Humans , MaleSubject(s)
Blood/parasitology , Filarioidea , Bone Marrow/parasitology , False Positive Reactions , Female , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
The increased incidence of parallel tubular structures in lymphocytes of patients with Hodgkin's disease was investigated for a correlation with either impairment of cellular immunity (measured by DNCB-skin test and PHA-induced lymphocyte stimulation in vitro) or an increase of antibodies against cytomegalovirus or Epstein-Barr virus. No correlations were found. Statistical analysis revealed antibody titers especially in the group of patients with high percentages of lymphocytes containing the tubular inclusions. This probably reflects only the connection between these findings and the progression of the disease. The nature and function of the parallel tubular structures have to be investigated further. In Hodgkin's disease they may have significance for the understanding of an alteration in lymphocyte function and morphology.
