Influence of different tumour types on natural cytotoxicity (NK cell activity) and mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation in isolated blood lymphocytes from 110 dogs with tumours.

The cell-mediated immune response of blood lymphocytes from 110 untreated dogs with different tumours was evaluated. The influence of different tumour types on the cellular immune system was examined by assessing the percentage of isolated large granular lymphocytes (LGL), in vitro natural cytotoxicity and mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation. Although the overall natural cytotoxicity of dogs with different tumours was decreased, the overall difference from control values was not statistically significant. However, mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation was significantly depressed in dogs with tumours in comparison with the controls. Dogs with mammary carcinomas showed significantly lower natural cytotoxicity than controls and dogs with myeloid neoplasms showed significantly lower mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation. Abnormalities exist not only in natural cytotoxicity but also in mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation. For the dog, this is the first study to assess the influence of different tumours using a combined evaluation of natural cytotoxicity and mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation in such a large number of animals.