IMMUNOBIOLOGY OF PRIMARY INTRACRANIAL TUMORS .2. ANALYSIS OF LYMPHOCYTE SUBPOPULATIONS IN PATIENTS WITH PRIMARY BRAIN TUMORS

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 29  (1) , 61-66
Abstract
Circulating peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations were analyzed in patients with primary intracranial neoplasia. Patients with tumors of glial origin demonstrated a significant depletion of E[erythrocyte]-rosetting lymphocytes, whereas the quantitative lymphocyte profiles of patients with non-glial brain tumors were normal. The number of immunoglobulin and Fc receptor-bearing cells was not significantly altered in any group of patients; the EAC-RFC [erythrocyte, antibody, complement-rosette forming cell] subpopulation was increased in those with malignant gliomas. Two hypotheses are suggested to explain these observations: the presence of cross-reacting antibody between T[thymus-derived] cells and brain (glial) cells, and the proliferation of EAC-RFC in response to malignant degeneration.