In Vitro Splenic IgG Synthesis in Hodgkin's Disease

Abstract

Experimental and clinical observations suggest increased lymphoid reactivity in Hodgkin's disease. Since thymus-dependent lymphocyte function is often depressed whereas serum antibody responses appear normal, in vitro splenic IgG synthesis was studied to assess B lymphocyte activity. Increased total splenic IgG synthesis occurred in 20 of 22 patients with Hodgkin's disease. Mean IgG production by uninvolved and lightly involved spleens of the patients was five and 11 times normal, whereas heavily involved spleens averaged twice normal levels. Unstimulated IgG synthesis by uninvolved and lightly involved spleens of patients was similar to that of normal spleens after secondary antigenic stimulation, suggesting an in vitro response to an in vivo antigenic challenge. When IgG produced in culture by spleens affected by Hodgkin's disease was incubated with homologous lymphocytes, highly significant IgG binding levels were found. These data suggest that the spleen in Hodgkin's disease responds with a humoral antibody to some antigen associated with lymphocytes. (N Engl J Med 289:763–767, 1973)