Lymphokine-activated killer cell function of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, spleen cells and regional lymph node cells in gastric cancer patients

Abstract

SUMMARYLymphokine-activaied killer (LAK) cells generated by culture of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). spleen cells (SPC) and regional lymph node cells (LNC) with IL-2 for 4 days were examined for their functional capabilities in 29 patients with gastric carcinoma. The cytotoxic activity of LAK cells induced from LNC was significantly lower than that from either PBMC or SPC. although there was no difference between PBMC or SPC. The induction of mRNA of interferon-gamma (IFN-7) or tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-(i) and the production of these cytokines in the non-adherent LAK cells from LNC were also significantly reduced compared with those from PBMC or SPC. Further, the LAK cells from LNC secreted signilkantly lower levels of these cytokines when stimulated with tumour target, Raji cells, although the production of these cytokines was markedly increased by stimulation with the targets in all three cell populations. Phenotypic analysis of each cell population revealed a decreased proportion of the cells mediating natural killer (NK) activity, including CDI6'. CD56', and CD57* cells in LNC either before or after culture, although OKlaP and CD25' cells were uniformly increased in all ceil populations after culture. Changes in subpopulations of CD4^ and CDS* cells in LNC were not apparently difTercnt from PBMC or SPC. These results indicated the differential reactivity of eaeh lyniphoeyte population to IL-2 and the reduced LAK eell function of LNC compared with PBMC or SPC in patients with gastric carcinoma.