Growth factors in Hodgkin's disease.

Tumor nodules from spleens removed at staging laparotomy for nodular sclerosing Hodgkin's disease were grown as fragment cultures in vitro. These cultures could be maintained in vitro for up to 2 months and consisted of 90% large, adherent multinuclear and mononuclear cells. Immunologic markers and enzyme histochemistry suggested that the cultured cells belonged to the monocyte/macrophage lineage. Supernatants from these cell cultures were then assayed for the monokine Interleukin I and for fibroblast stimulatory factors, which were both present. These results are discussed in considering Hodgkin's disease as a neoplasm of the monocyte/macrophage lineage, capable of producing functionally active mediators that may account for the histopathologic appearance observed.