Change in peripheral blood lymphocyte count in dogs following adoptive immunotherapy using lymphokine activated T killer cells combined with palliative tumor resection.
We evaluated changes in peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) count in dogs following adoptive immunotherapy using lymphokine activated T killer cells (T LAK) in combination with surgery. Fifteen tumor bearing dogs treated with T LAK therapy combined with palliative resection of tumors were enrolled in the present study. T LAK were generated from autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) by culture with recombinant human interleukin 2 (rhIL 2) and solid phase anti canine cluster of differentiation (CD)3 antibody. T LAK were administrated intravenously at 2 4 week intervals. After the first administration of T LAK, counts of PBL and T lymphocyte subsets (CD3( CD4( and CD8( cells) increased and the CD4/CD8 ratio decreased, with significant increases in CD8( cells (P<0.05) In 8 tumor bearing dogs that were administered sequential T LAK, available data on changes in PBL and T lymphocyte phenotypes until the fifth administration were also analyzed. In tumor bearing dogs administered 5 rounds of T LAK, CD8( cell counts were maintained high until the fifth administration of T LAK. Moreover, the CD4/CD8 ratio remained low until the fifth administration of T LAK. These results indicate that T LAK therapy combined with surgery may increase peripheral blood T lymphocytes, particularly CD8( cells, in tumor bearing dogs.
Veterinary immunology and immunopathology