Modulation of immune suppression and enhanced tumorigenesis in retrovirus tumor challenged chickens treated with...

Vitamin E(dl-alpha-tocopherol) dissolved in ethanol with polyethylene glycol as the vehicle and administered by intraperitoneal injections of 0.1 mg/gm body weight at two day intervals, was demonstrated to be a potent immunomodulating reagent in young chickens challenged with avian reticuloendotheliosis virus-transformed tumor cells. Vitamin E treatment enhanced the mitogen-induced proliferative responses of spleen cells from age matched, unchallenged chickens; reduced the tumor cell-induced suppression of host splenic lymphocyte mitogen responses; and eliminated tumor cell-induced suppressor cell activity. However, inspite of an improved immune status the vitamin E treated-tumor cell challenged chickens exhibited enhanced tumorigenesis.