Cell-mediated and humoral immune response in various vascular diseases

Cellular and humoral immune reactions were studied in patients with myocardial infarction, arteriosclerosis obliterans and superficial thrombophlebitis. Antigens were prepared from human aortic wall with lipid plaques and from vena cava tissue. Migration of leukocytes was inhibited and both DNA-synthesis and antibody production were increased in all groups of patients. No immune reaction could be observed in the controls. A cross-reactivity between aortic and vascular extracts was detected by the leukocyte migration test and by the passive hemagglutination technique, while the induction of DNA-synthesis proved to be specific. Investigating the time-kinetics of cellular and humoral immune response, cellular immune reactions were found to be still present long after the appearance of humoral antibodies.