Skip to main content
PMC home page
The Journal of Clinical Investigation logoLink to The Journal of Clinical Investigation
. 1975 Jul;56(1):88–97. doi: 10.1172/JCI108084

A comparison of the acute effects of radiation therapy, including or excluding the thymus, on the lymphocyte subpopulations of cancer patients.

J A Stratton, P E Byfield, J E Byfield, R C Small, J Benfield, Y Pilch
PMCID: PMC436559  PMID: 1095613

Abstract

Radiation therapy to either mediastinum or pelvis causes a rapid decrease in circulating lymphocytes of both B and T types and in addition an impairment in the function of the remaining lyphocytes, as measured by their ability to proliferate in response to mitogens. The acute depression is short-lived. Substantial recovery is apparent within 3 wk after cessation of therapy; however, most patients show a modest, chronic depression in both numbers and functional capacities of circulating lymphocytes. T cells are somewhat more sensitive than B cells, but both are affected. Irradiation of the thymus per se seems to have little influence on the acute changes which occur, as patients receiving pelvic and mediastinal (including thymic) radiotherapy show a similiar degree of lymphopenia and depression of lymphocyte responsiveness.

Full text

PDF

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. BARNES B. A., BROWNELL G. L., FLAX M. H. IRRADIATION OF THE BLOOD: METHOD FOR REDUCING LYMPHOCYTES IN BLOOD AND SPLEEN. Science. 1964 Sep 11;145(3637):1188–1189. doi: 10.1126/science.145.3637.1188. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. BINHAMMER R. T., CROCKER J. R. Effect of x-irradiation on the pituitary-adrenal axis of the rat. Radiat Res. 1963 Apr;18:429–436. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Bach J. F., Dormont J. Further developments of the rosette inhibition test for the testing of antihuman lymphocyte serum. Transplantation. 1971 Jan;11(1):96–100. doi: 10.1097/00007890-197101000-00016. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Bianco C., Nussenzweig V. Theta-bearing and complement-receptor lymphocytes are distinct populations of cells. Science. 1971 Jul 9;173(3992):154–156. doi: 10.1126/science.173.3992.154. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Braeman J. Lymphocyte response after radiotherapy. Lancet. 1973 Sep 22;2(7830):683–683. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(73)92527-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Coombs R. R., Gurner B. W., Wilson A. B., Holm G., Lindgren B. Rosette-formation between human lymphocytes and sheep red cells not involving immunoglobulin receptors. Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol. 1970;39(5-6):658–663. doi: 10.1159/000230390. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Cosimi A. B., Brunstetter F. H., Kemmerer W. T., Miller B. N. Cellular immune competence of breast cancer patients receiving radiotherapy. Arch Surg. 1973 Oct;107(4):531–535. doi: 10.1001/archsurg.1973.01350220015005. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Davies A. J. The thymus humoral factor under scrutiny. Agents Actions. 1969 Nov;1(2):1–7. doi: 10.1007/BF01977659. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Ernström U. Effect of irradiation on the release of lymphocytes from the thymus. Acta Radiol Ther Phys Biol. 1972 Jun;11(3):257–276. doi: 10.3109/02841867209130765. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Evans R., Alexander P. Cooperation of immune lymphoid cells with macrophages in tumour immunity. Nature. 1970 Nov 14;228(5272):620–622. doi: 10.1038/228620a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. FLEISCHMAN J. B., PAIN R. H., PORTER R. R. Reduction of gamma-globulins. Arch Biochem Biophys. 1962 Sep;Suppl 1:174–180. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Field E. O., Sharpe H. B., Dawson K. B., Andersen V., Killmann S. A., Weeke E. Turnover rate of normal blood lymphocytes and exchangeable pool size in man, calculated from analysis of chromosomal aberrations sustained during extracorporeal irradiation of the blood. Blood. 1972 Jan;39(1):39–56. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Golub E. S. Brain-associated stem cell antigen: an antigen shared by brain and hemopoietic stem cells. J Exp Med. 1972 Aug 1;136(2):369–374. doi: 10.1084/jem.136.2.369. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Greaves M. F., Brown G. Purification of human T and B lymphocytes. J Immunol. 1974 Jan;112(1):420–423. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Huber H., Fudenberg H. H. The interaction of monocytes and macrophages with immunoglobulins and complement. Ser Haematol. 1970;3(2):160–175. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Ilbery P. L., Rickinson A. B., Thrum C. E. Blood lymphocyte replicating ability as a measurement of radiation dosage. Br J Radiol. 1971 Nov;44(527):834–840. doi: 10.1259/0007-1285-44-527-834. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Jenkins V. K., Olson M. H., Ellis H. N. In vitro methods of assessing lymphocyte transformation in patients undergoing radiotherapy for bronchogenic cancer. Tex Rep Biol Med. 1973 Spring;31(1):19–28. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Jondal M., Holm G., Wigzell H. Surface markers on human T and B lymphocytes. I. A large population of lymphocytes forming nonimmune rosettes with sheep red blood cells. J Exp Med. 1972 Aug 1;136(2):207–215. doi: 10.1084/jem.136.2.207. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Maruyama Y., Barclay T. J. Effects of heavy mediastinal x-irradiation on sex-specific histocompatibility. Am J Roentgenol Radium Ther Nucl Med. 1967 Aug;100(4):944–947. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. McCredie J. A., Inch W. R., Sutherland R. M. Effect of postoperative radiotherapy on peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with carcinoma of the breast. Cancer. 1972 Feb;29(2):349–356. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(197202)29:2<349::aid-cncr2820290214>3.0.co;2-k. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Michlmayr G., Huber H. Receptor sites for complement on certain human peripheral blood lymphocytes. J Immunol. 1970 Sep;105(3):670–676. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Millard R. E. Effect of previous irradiation on the transformation of blood lymphocytes. J Clin Pathol. 1965 Nov;18(6):783–785. doi: 10.1136/jcp.18.6.783. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Perlmann P., Holm G. Cytotoxic effects of lymphoid cells in vitro. Adv Immunol. 1969;11:117–193. doi: 10.1016/s0065-2776(08)60479-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Perper R. J., Zee T. W., Mickelson M. M. Purification of lymphocytes and platelets by gradient centrifugation. J Lab Clin Med. 1968 Nov;72(5):842–848. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Rabellino E., Colon S., Grey H. M., Unanue E. R. Immunoglobulins on the surface of lymphocytes. I. Distribution and quantitation. J Exp Med. 1971 Jan 1;133(1):156–167. doi: 10.1084/jem.133.1.156. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Raff M. C., Sternberg M., Taylor R. B. Immunoglobulin determinants on the surface of mouse lymphoid cells. Nature. 1970 Feb 7;225(5232):553–554. doi: 10.1038/225553a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Shevach E. M., Herberman R., Frank M. M., Green I. Receptors for complement and immunoglobulin on human leukemic cells and human lymphoblastoid cell lines. J Clin Invest. 1972 Aug;51(8):1933–1938. doi: 10.1172/JCI106999. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Silveira N. P., Mendes N. F., Tolnai M. E. Tissue localization of two populations of human lymphocytes distinguished by membrane receptors. J Immunol. 1972 May;108(5):1456–1460. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Stjernswärd J., Jondal M., Vánky F., Wigzell H., Sealy R. Lymphopenia and change in distribution of human B and T lymphocytes in peripheral blood induced by irradiation for mammary carcinoma. Lancet. 1972 Jun 24;1(7765):1352–1356. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(72)91091-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Sutherland J., Maruyama Y. Thoracic irradiation--induced lymphopenia in mice. Oncology. 1974;30(1):85–95. doi: 10.1159/000224942. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Takasugi M., Klein E. A microassay for cell-mediated immunity. Transplantation. 1970 Mar;9(3):219–227. doi: 10.1097/00007890-197003000-00005. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Thomas D. B. Antibodies specific for human T lymphocytes in cold agglutinin and lymphocytotoxic sera. Eur J Immunol. 1973 Dec;3(12):824–828. doi: 10.1002/eji.1830031216. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Thomas J. W., Lewis H. S., Yuen A. Effect of therapeutic irradiation on lymphocyte transformation in lung cancer. Cancer. 1971 May;27(5):1046–1050. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(197105)27:5<1046::aid-cncr2820270507>3.0.co;2-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Wood S. E., Campbell J. B., Anderson J. M., Kelly F. Letter: Lymphocyte response after radiotherapy. Lancet. 1974 May 4;1(7862):863–863. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(74)90506-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Wybran J., Carr M. C., Fudenberg H. H. The human rosette-forming cell as a marker of a population of thymus-derived cells. J Clin Invest. 1972 Oct;51(10):2537–2543. doi: 10.1172/JCI107069. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Wybran J., Fudenberg H. H. Rosette formation, a test for cellular immunity. Trans Assoc Am Physicians. 1971;84:239–247. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Clinical Investigation are provided here courtesy of American Society for Clinical Investigation

RESOURCES