SUPPRESSOR CELL-ACTIVITY OF PERIPHERAL MONONUCLEAR-CELLS FROM PATIENTS UNDERGOING CHRONIC-HEMODIALYSIS

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 32  (1) , 11-17
Abstract
The enhanced in vitro proliferative response of peripheral mononuclear cells (PMNC) when pre-cultured for 24 h prior to the addition of concanavalin [Con] A was used as an indirect parameter of suppressor cell activity in healthy subjects and in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis. The proliferative response of PMNC from hemodialysis patients was lower than that of control subjects when Con A was added at the initiation of culture but approximates to that of normal subjects when the addition of Con A was deferred for 24 h. The suppressor indices of PMNC from hemodialysis patients were at least as great and sometimes greater than those of control subjects but the absolute T cell counts were lower in hemodialysis patients than in controls. The relative anergy of hemodialysis patients is partly attributable to T [thymus-derived]-cell depletion but this is accompanied by retention, and in some cases augmentation, of suppressor cell activity.