In vitro lymphocyte dysfunction in Hodgkin's disease.

In vitro lymphocyte function and delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity (DCH) response in vivo were assessed in 27 patients with Hodgkin's disease. Lymphocyte responsiveness to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and to a standard mitomycin C-treated lymphoblastoid cell line in a one-way mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) was measured simultaneously and compared to that of controls. Seventeen patients, including 6 of 11 untreated patients, had some defect either of DCH or of an in vitro lymphocyte function. In patients lacking a DCH response, the PHA and MLC responses were significantly depressed as compared to either those with intact DCH or normal controls. In patients with intact DCH, the PHA but not the MLC response was significantly depressed. PHA stimulation and MLC may define different subpopulations of responding thymus-derived lymphocytes in patients with Hodgkin's disease. Measurement of lymphocyte response to PHA and to a standard lymphoblastoid cell line in the one-way MLC may provide complementary in vitro means of assessing cell-mediated immunity in patients with Hodgkin's disease.