Host immune status in uraemia. II. Serum factors and lymphocyte transformation.

A model of experimentally induced uraemia has been used to study the effect of serum from uraemic rats on the immune responsiveness of thymus-derived (T) lymphocytes. Splenic lymphocytes from normal or uraemic animals responded to mitogenic stimulation with concanavalin A to a similar degree when cultured in a tissue culture medium containing the maximum non-toxic concentration of normal or uraemic serum in the culture system (3%). Serum from uraemic animals, however, had an immunosuppressive effect if the serum was first dialysed for 24 hr before being added to the tissue culture medium. When an alternative vessel was used which allowed the concentration of serum in the medium to be increased to 10%, serum from severely uraemic animals markedly suppressed the capacity of lymphocytes from normal animals to respond to Con A. Thus while serum from uraemic animals can be shown to be immunosuppressive, the results of the experiments are influenced by the conditions in vitro. The type of culture vessel and the concentration of serum in the culture medium are particularly critical determinants. It is likely that variations in laboratory procedures have contributed to the differences of opinion on the effect of serum from uraemic individuals on lymphocyte function.