Cytotoxic and proliferative responses of human thoracic duct lymphocytes: Effect of thoracic duct drainage in uremic patients

Abstract

In 22 uremic patients treated by thoracic duct drainage prior to renal transplantation, the cytotoxic and proliferative responses of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and thoracic duct lymphocytes (TDL) were compared. Renal insufficiency did not reduce the proliferative response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) but resulted in a profound depression of PHA-induced cytotoxicity and antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity (ADCC). Depletion of recirculating lymphocytes decreased PHA-induced DNA synthesis but did not affect the cytotoxic responses. TDL were found to be less efficient effectors of ADCC than PBL. Differences between in vitro responses of PBL and TDL as well as the selective effects of renal insufficiency and lymphocyte depletion suggest that the pro-liferative and cytotoxic reactions in the three in vitro systems presently studied are supported by different lymphocyte subsets.