[Suspension cultures of human malignant lymphoma in the leukocyte migration test]

The effects of supernatants of primary and secondary malignant human lymphoma cell cultures were analyzed as parameters of spontaneous secretion of factors by these cells using the leukocyte migration test (LMT). Spontaneous cultivation for up to five weeks was successful in four cases. The postulated production of mediators, i.e. the inhibitory and stimulating effects on leukocyte migration were characterized by testing the influence of (a) concentration, (b) temperature and (c) absorption with normal blood leukocytes on the effect. Reproducible stimulatory and inhibitory effects on the migration of normal leukocytes were dependent on concentration and temperature and were apparently mediated by one or more factors. The supernatants of a lymphoblastic lymphosarcoma of the T-cell type and of a lymphoblastic lymphosarcoma clearly revealed congruous and reproducible inhibitory effects. A further case of lymphoblastic lymphosarcoma that could not exactly be defined with immunological methods either and a case of centroblastic/centrocytic lymphosarcoma exhibited stimulating effects which could be reduced in a time-dependent manner through preincubation with blood leukocytes. The results of these studies support the assumption that malignant lymphoma cells are capable not only of secreting immunoglobulin, but also of other biologically effective secretion. The effects of such secretion are differentiated into stimulating and inhibitory ones. They might be important for the spreading of a tumor or for resistance of the organism to the disease.