Patients with hepatic cirrhosis: altered lymphocyte response to mitogens and its relation with plasmatic zinc, albumin and transferrin

Patients with alchoholic hepatic cirrhosis have a higher predisposition to acquiring infections than healthy individuals, suggesting an alteration in the immune system. They also exhibit an important decrease in certain plasmatic constituents such as zinc, albumin, and transferrin which are involved in the normal immune response. The blastoid transformation of lymphocites stimulated in vitro with phytohemaglutinin M and P in patients with alcoholic hepatic cirrhosis was studied and the results were correlated with the plasmatic constitutents aforementioned. The rate of blastoid transformation was significantly lower (p<.001) in these patients when compared to the control group, but did not correlate directly with the concentration of zinc, albumin, transferrin or circulating globulins. Patients' plasma significantly inhibited the response of normal cells to stimulation with phytohemaglutinin and Concanavalin A; nevertheless, the blastoid transformation of lymphocytes in these patients was not restored to normal levels when incubated with control plasma

New clinical trials with interleukin-2: rationale for regional administration.

The recent availability of recombinant interleukin-2 (IL-2) has led to its rapid introduction as systemic agent against solid tumors. Much less has been undertaken so far in the exploration of the potential advantages of regional applications of IL-2. The potential advantages of regional administration of IL-2 include an ability to achieve higher levels of IL-2 at the site of the tumor, to abrogate local and systemic immunosuppression and to activate specific and nonspecific cytotoxic effectors, with avoidance or reduction of major organ toxicity of high-dose systemic IL-2 therapy. This article reviews that data which support the regional application of IL-2 and other lymphokines for superficial bladder tumors, stage III ovarian carcinoma, melanoma and head and neck cancers. The rationale for regional administration of cytokines like IL-2 in an adjuvant setting, and as a first step in the systemic immunotherapy of solid tumors, is developed.