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[Mitogen-induced lymphocyte transformation in patients with Yusho]
H Tsuji1, N Suzuki, S Sakisaka
1Third Department of Medicine, Fukuoka University School of Medicine, Fukuoka 814-0180, Japan.
Abstract:
To evaluate chronic immune effects of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), in vitro lymphocyte transformation in response to nonspecific mitogens were studied in 74 patients with Yusho in 2000. Elevated response in phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-induced lymphocyte transformation was detected in fifteen (20.3%) patients, while decreased PHA response was found in six (8.1%) patients. Concanavalin A (Con A)-induced lymphocyte transformation was increased in six (8.1%) patients, and decreased in eleven (14.9%) patients. There were no significant correlations between blood PCB concentrations and lymphocyte transformation in response to PHA, Con A, or pokeweed mitogen (PWM). We conclude that abnormality of lymphocyte transformation in patients with Yusho is frequent, but it may not be associated with blood PCB concentration.