THE EFFECT OF UREMIC BLOOD ON MIXED LEUKOCYTE REACTIONS AND ON CULTURES OF LEUKOCYTES WITH PHYTOHEMAGGLUTININ

Abstract

The effect of uremia on mixed leukocyte reactions and on leukocyte cultures with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) was investigated. Generally, the reactivity of lymphocytes from uremic patients to X-irradiated allogoneic leukocytes in mixed cultures was significantly lower than that of normal lymphocytes. Uremic plasma usually depressed the mixed leukocyte reaction of normal lymphocytes. Uremic lymphocytes reacted normally to PHA. Uremic plasma did not depress the reactivity of normal lymphocytes to PHA. Possible explanations for the depressed reactivity of uremic lymphocytes to allogeneic antigens are discussed. When the mixed leukocyte reaction test is applied to kidney homotransplantation, one should consider the effect of uremia on this test.