Effects of Corynebacterium parvum and BCG therapy on immune parameters in patients with disseminated melanoma a sequential study over 28 days. I. Changes in blood counts, serum immunoglobulins and lymphoid cell populations

Clin Exp Immunol. 1979 Jan;35(1):36-44.

Abstract

The effects of a single immunization of melanoma patients with BCG or C. parvum on the blood counts, serum immunoglobulin levels and lymphoid subpopulations were followed by multiple assays over 28 days. C. parvum produced a decrease in the white cell count, lymphocyte count and lymphoid T and sIg+ cell numbers, which recovered within 1 week; BCG did not produce such a marked depression. Both agents were associated with increases in T cell numbers and lymphocyte PHA blastogenesis after the first week; these declined to pre-immunization values by 3-4 weeks. The sIg-bearing cell subpopulation also increased after BCG. Different methods of expression the results were compared and the difficulties of immunological monitoring are discussed.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • BCG Vaccine / pharmacology*
  • BCG Vaccine / therapeutic use
  • Bacterial Vaccines / pharmacology*
  • Bacterial Vaccines / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins / analysis
  • Leukocyte Count
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Male
  • Melanoma / immunology*
  • Melanoma / therapy
  • Middle Aged
  • Phytohemagglutinins / pharmacology
  • Propionibacterium acnes / immunology*
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / analysis
  • Rosette Formation

Substances

  • BCG Vaccine
  • Bacterial Vaccines
  • Immunoglobulins
  • Phytohemagglutinins
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell