Immunobiology of primary intracranial tumors. VI. Suppressor cell function and lectin-binding lymphocyte subpopulations in patients with cerebral tumors.

Peripheral blood lymphocytes obtained from patients with primary intracranial tumors were assessed for the presence of Concanavalin-A-activated, glass-adherent, and spontaneous, nonspecific suppressor cells. Additionally, the effect of indomethacin on phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-induced blastogenesis was determined. No significant differences in cellular suppressor mechanisms in these patients and normal controls were observed. However, shifts in lymphocyte populations were demonstrable when cells were separated according to quantification of PHA-L surface binding sites by flow microfluorometry. Therefore, although impaired cellular responsiveness in patients with cerebral neoplasms does not appear to be due to alterations in suppressor-cell function, changes in lymphocyte subpopulations occur that may be induced as an immunobiological consequence of primary central nervous system neoplasia and contribute to suppressed host immunocompetence.