Prostaglandin-related and adherent cell suppressor system in apparently cured Hodgkin's disease patients

Lymphocyte proliferation (LP) by phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and two suppressor systems of mononuclear cells was investigated in 22 patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD) who were apparently cured at the time of study. The results were compared with those obtained in healthy controls and in a group of patients with inoperable carcinoma of the bronchus. The prostaglandin-related suppressor cell system ( PGSS ) was tested by adding 1 microgram/ml indomethacin to the mononuclear leukocyte cultures. The adherent cell suppressor system ( ACSS ) was tested by removal of the adherent cells on plastic petri dishes. The PGSS index of suppression was defined as the ratio of LP by PHA with indomethacin to LP without indomethacin. The ACSS index was defined as the ratio of the nonadherent cell LP to the total LP. The mean PGSS index in HD patients (1.1 +/- 0.25) was significantly higher (p less than 0.01) than in healthy controls (0.94 +/- 0.2). The ACSS index in HD patients (1.08 +/- 0.47) was also higher (p less than 0.02) than in controls. The LP by PHA value in HD patients (23,908 +/- 14,770 cpm) was significantly lower (p less than 0.001) than in controls (47,151 +/- 17,706 cpm). ACSS values in bronchogenic cancer patients were lower than in HD patients. The LP by PHA value was significantly lower in HD patients compared with bronchogenic carcinoma patients (p less than 0.02). HD patients who had a PGSS index of 1.3 or higher had a significantly lower LP value than those with a PGSS index lower than 1.3.