Studies of Lymphocyte Transfer Reactions in Hodgkin's Disease*

Abstract

Eighty-five lymphocyte transfer reactions employing six non-Hodgkin''s and 12 Hodgkin''s recipients have been studied. The skin reaction of transferred Hodgkin''s lymphocytes is only slightly impaired at 48 hours, but is markedly depressed compared with normal lymphocytes transferred to the same recipient at 7 days and at 11 to 14 days. The difference between Hodgkin''s and normal lymphocytes is best observed in the Hodgkin''s recipient, where the duration of the transfer reaction of normal lymphocytes is abnormally protracted. The defect in the Hodgkin''s lymphocyte is presumed to contribute to the cutaneous anergy seen in Hodgkin''s disease. On the basis of these experiments, it is felt most likely that host factors are important in the 48 -hour lymphocyte transfer reaction, whereas the 7-day reaction is a graft-versus-host phenomenon. Termination of the transfer reaction is believed to be caused by sensitization of the host with rejection of the transferred lymphocytes.