Abstract
Therapeutic trials with THF in cellular immunodeficient patients were attempted. Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) were separated on Picoll isopaque gradients and tests of in vitro T-cell functions were performed: 1. E rosette formation 2. Microcytotoxicity of goat anti-human thymic antisenm (ATS) on PBL 3. Leucocyte Migration Inhibition Factor (LIF) production, after challenge with pbytohemaglutinin (PHA), Concavalin A (CON A), PPD or Monilia antigen (MON) 4. 3H-Thymidine uptake after stimulation with PHA and CON-A 5. Intracellular CAMP levels prior to and after stimulation of PBL with trypsia 6. Dermal delayed hypersensitivity reactions in response to PHA, PPD or MON. Treatment was instituted in patients, whose T-cell parameters were reconstituted in vitro by THF, at the dosage of 1 mg/Kg/d for 2-4 weeks: 3 Down's syndrome (D,S.) patients suffering from severe gastrointestinal and respiratory infections; in 2 with Ataxia Telangiectasia (AT), the first having Varicella with pneumonitis, and the second with progressive bronchopneumonia; in 1 child with Acute Lymphatic Leukemia of Childhood (ALC), aad life threatening Varicella; in 1 patient with partial Combined Immune Deficiency (CID), aad 1 child with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), complicated by autoimmune hemolytic anemia. In all patients, T-cell functions were completely or partially reconstituted. Nevertheless only 3/8 patients benefited clinically, including: IDS case, AT with Varicella. ALC with Varicella. It is concluded that THP is a promising imnunostimulant in some cases of partial T-cell deficiency, having sufficient T-precursors.
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Handsel, Z., Levin, S., Shneyour, A. et al. THE POTENTIAL OF THYMUS HUMORAL FACTOR (THE) TREATMENT OF IMMUNODEFICIENT PATIENTS. Pediatr Res 12, 67 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197801000-00042
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197801000-00042
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