Cytotoxicity of Adrenal Cortex Hormones on Normal and Malignant Lymphocytes of Man and Rat

Abstract

Cortisol succinate, cortisol, and corti-costerone in small doses were toxic to lymphocytes from rat blood and rabbit thymus. The toxicity was indicated by a reduction in the in vitro survival time of the lymphocytes, according to a slide-chamber method. Minimal toxic effects were produced by 0.01 [mu]g/ml of cortisol succinate and cortisol and by 0.1 [mu]g/ml of corticosterone. In contrast lymphocytes from the blood of normal individuals and from non-leukemic patients were resistant to 10 [mu]g/ml of cortisol succinate. These experiments suggest a species difference in the sensitivity of lymphocytes from man as compared to those from the rat and rabbit. Similar tests were done on the lymphocytes from the blood of 13 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia or with lymphosarcoma in leukemic phase. In general, the leukemic lymphocytes were more sensitive to cortisol succinate (10 [mu]g/ml) than normal lymphocytes. Two of the 13 patients had lymphocytes which were very sensitive to the corticosteroid.