Inhibition of PHA-stimulated lymphocyte transformation by plasma from patients with advanced alcoholic cirrhosis.

Studies of lymphocyte transformation in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver indicate lymphocytes of such patients respond normally to PHA stimulation; however, their plasma or serum contains factors which block expected response to PHA. This effect was diminished by heating at 56°C for 60 minutes but was not affected by freezing and thawing. It could be overcome by increasing the dose of PHA. Blocking was also encountered in the response to pokeweed mitogen and Candida antigen stimulation but was not seen in the mixed lymphocyte reaction. Indentical results were obtained with plasma from patients with allergic rhinitis, uraemia, carcinomatosis, and granulomatous hepatitis. The magnitude of blocking effects in all of these conditions was negatively correlated with the serum γ-globulin levels.