Immunomodulation of the lymphoresponsive phases of carcinogenesis: mechanisms of natural immunity

Journal Article · Wed Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982 · J. Natl. Cancer Inst.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6657211

Evans, C H; DiPaolo, J A; Heinbaugh, J A; DeMarinis, A J

Biphasic modulation of the frequency of 3-methylcholanthrene-induced tumors in relation to increasing immunocompetence of tumor-bearing mice is indicative of lymphoresponsive stimulatory and inhibitory phases of carcinogenesis; components and mechanisms contributing to the paradoxical ability of the native or natural immune system to stimulate as well as to inhibit the development of cancer were identified with the use of an in vitro model of carcinogenesis. Normal NIH/N Syrian golden hamster spleen leukocytes caused a biphasic modulation of UV-irradiated hamster cell morphologic transformation that was dependent on the leukocyte-to-target cell (L:TC) ratio. Whereas low (less than 50:1) and high (greater than 200:1) L:TC ratios inhibited the transformation frequency, intermediate ratios were less inhibitory and seemingly immunostimulatory. Inhibition alone occurred with antigen- or mitogen-activated leukocytes or with macrophages. An anticarcinogenic lymphocyte hormone, lymphotoxin, eliminated the leukocyte-mediated stimulatory phase; galactose, a lymphotoxin inhibitor, blocked the leukocyte-mediated inhibitory phases. Thus immunoinhibition was mediated through lymphotoxin, and the apparent immunostimulation possibly resulted from immune cell regulation of lymphotoxin activity during the early stages of carcinogenesis.

• Research Organization: Division of Cancer Cause and Prevention, National Cancer Institute, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD
• OSTI ID: 6657211
• Journal Information: J. Natl. Cancer Inst.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Natl. Cancer Inst.; (United States) Vol. 69:3; ISSN JNCIA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

3-METHYLCHOLANTHRENE
550400* -- Genetics
560305 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
AROMATICS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY FLUIDS
CARCINOGENESIS
CARCINOMAS
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
DISEASES
HYDROCARBONS
IMMUNE REACTIONS
IMMUNITY
LEUKOCYTES
MACROPHAGES
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
MICE
NEOPLASMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PATHOGENESIS
PHAGOCYTES
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
RODENTS
SOMATIC CELLS
TUMOR CELLS
VERTEBRATES