Concanavalin A-induced suppressor cell activity in Hodgkin's disease

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 20 previously untreated adult patients with Hodgkin's disease were evaluated for the ability to induce suppressor cell activity following in vitro exposure to concanavalin A (Con A). Suppression of proliferative responses by autologous as well as normal allogeneic peripheral blood lymphocytes to the mitogen phytohemagglutinin (PHA) was assessed using suppressor/responder cell ratios of 2:1 and 1:1. The generation of Con A-induced suppressor cell activity (T-T suppression) was deficient in 35% of the patients (7/20) by the criteria employed. Peripheral blood leukocytes from 18% of patients (2/11) with localized disease (stages I and II), and 56% of patients (5/9) with widespread disease (stages III and IV) exhibited subnormal suppressor activity. There was no correlation between absolute lymphocyte count, absolute T-cell number, or proliferative response to PHA, and Con A-induced suppressor cell activity. This impaired ability to generate Con A-induced suppressor cells in Hodgkin's disease may reflect a functional T-cell deficit, or the suppressive influence of abnormal circulating monocytes.